1 3 Computing System Fundamentals 3.4 Networked Computer Systems

3.4.6 Networking Software

3 Network software Servers on LANs have network versions of the operating systems e.g. Windows Server to handle authentication (log in), security, resource management, etc. Clients of the server must have network protocols and NIC drivers installed

4 Network software For a computer to access a WAN e.g. the internet, the OS must include a modem network driver to handle the protocols, For the WWW, a browser, For , a mail client.

5 Network models Thin client networks require very little software on the client - everything is run from the server. Peer-to-peer (P2P) requires no central co- ordination - each computer acts as consumer and supplier of data.

6 Hosting A web site requires a permanently-on, secure, backed up computer as a server. Many sites use third-party hosting services. The host also provide scripting (extra interactivity), security, and database services that most individuals cannot.

7 Web applications Much data and many apps are now moving “into the cloud” i.e. online e.g. Google Docs, Wikispaces Although this is much more convenient for access anywhere, there may be possible disputes over ownership and possible loss of privacy.

8 Business uses for networking These include: ‣ internal communications, ‣ electronic mail, ‣ e-commerce, ‣ video/teleconferencing, ‣ distributed processing.

9 Internal communications These include: ‣ VOIP, ‣ collaborative wikis, ‣ messaging services, ‣ chat.

10 Electronic mail has the advantage that it is: ‣ paperless, ‣ fast, ‣ searchable, ‣ archivable.

11 Electronic commerce E-commerce handles: ‣ sales and publicity, ‣ ordering, ‣ stock control, ‣ distribution and ‣ payment. Amazon is a good example.

12 Video/teleconferencing This requires audio/video software, webcam, microphones and speakers. A good example is Skype. Video-conferencing reduces travel (saves time, money and emissions) and increases accessibility to meetings. It requires a fast connection and is not suitable as first contact with a customer.

13 Distributed processing This is similar to P2P file sharing. Many small networked computers can be made to process large amounts of data as if they were equivalent to a supercomputer. An example is SETI at home.