n of terminals now use computer networks in which every employee who needs

a computer has personal computer connected to the network. In education,

schools, colleges and universities have also shifted to strategies built around
networked personal computers.

Configurations or Topologies Networks

A network can be arranged or configured in several different ways. This

arrangements is called the network's topology. The four principal network
topologies are

1. Star Network

2. Bus Network

3. Ring Network

4. Hierarchical Network

1. Star Network

In a star network small computers or peripheral devices are linked to a central

unit. This central unit may be a host computer or a file server. All the
communications pass through this central unit. Control is maintained by polling.
Each device is in turn allowed to send the message.

One particular advantage of the star form of network is that it can be used
to provide a time-sharing system. i.e several users can share resources (time)
on a central computer. The star is a common arrangement for linking several
microcomputers to a mainframe that allows access to an organizations
database.

2. Bus Network

In a bus network each device in the network handles its own communication
control. There is no host computer. All communications control travel along a
common connecting cable called a bus. As the information passes along the bus
it is examined by each device to see if the information is intended for it.

The bus network is typically used when only a few microcomputers are to be
linked together. The bus network is not as efficient as the star network for
sharing common resources. However it is less expensive and is in very common
use.

3. Ring Network

In a ring network, each device is connected with two other devices forming a
ring. There is no central file server or computer. Messages are passed around
the ring until they reach correct destination. With microcomputers ring
network is the least frequently used arrangement. However it is often used to
link mainframes specially over wide geographical areas.

A ring network is useful in a decentralized organization because it makes

possible a distributed data processing system i.e. computers can perform
processing tasks at their own dispersed locations.

4. Hierarchical Network

This type of networks are also called hybrid network. It consist of several
computers linked to a central host computer just like a star network. However
these computers are also hosts to other smaller computers or to peripheral
devices. The host at the top of thehierarchical network could be mainframe.
The computers below the mainframe could be minicomputers and those below
microcomputers. This network allows various computers to share database
processing programs and different output devices. It is useful in a centralized
organizations.

Strategies of Networks

Every network has a strategy or a way of coordinating the sharing of the

information and resource. The most common network strategies are terminal,
peer-to-peer and client/server systems, terminal network system. In this
system processing power is centralized in one large computer, usually
the mainframe. The nodes (a node is any device connected to network)
connected to this host computer are terminals (a terminal is a input or output
device) with little or no processing capability. Most airline reservation
systems are terminal systems.

Peer-to-Peer Network System

In a peer-to-peer network, nodes can act both as servers and clients. There
are several advantages of using this type of strategy. The networks as
inexpensive and easy to install and they usually work well for smaller systems
with less than ten nodes. As the number of nodes increases, however the
performance of the network declines.

Client/Server Network System

Client/Server network system uses to coordinate and supply services to all

other nodes on the network. The server provides access to centralized
resources such as databases, applications software and hardware. This
strategy is based on specialization. Server nodes coordinate and supply
specialized services and client nodes request services.

One advantage of client/server network system is its ability to handle very

large networks efficiently. Another advantage is the powerfulmanagement
software that monitors and controls networks activities. The major
disadvantage of it is the high cost of installation and maintenance.

Advantages of Network

Networks provide tremendous benefits. The most compelling advantages of

network are as follows.

1. Networks allow users simultaneous access to shared programs and data.

2. Network also allows users to share peripheral devices such as printers
and hard disks.

3. Network usually includes the capacity to send e-mail and many e-mail
systems let users to attach files to their messages.

4. Connecting computers to form a network makes it easier to perform

backups of the data on all the network hard disks.

Types of Networks

Communications differ in geographical size. Three important types are LANs,

MANs, WANs.

Local Area Networks (LANs)

Network with computers and peripherals devices in close proximity within the
same building are called local area networks (LANs).

The figure shows an example of a LAN. This type of arrangement has two
benefits.

1. People can share different equipment, which lowers the cos of equipment.

2. LAN also features a network gateway. i.e. a LAN may be linked to other
LANs or to large networks in this manner.

Metropolitan Area Network (MANs)

These network are used as links between office buildings in a city. Cellular
phone systems expand the flexibility of MANs by allowing links to car phones
and portable phones.

Wide Area Network (WANs)

Wide area networks are countrywide and worldwide networks. Among other
kinds of channels they use microwave relays and satellites to reach users over
long distances. One of the most widely used WANs is Internet. Which allows
users to connect to other users and facilities worldwide.

Uses of Internet

The most common uses of Internet are

1. Communicating

Sending and receiving e-mail is the most popular internet activity. You can
send and receive e-mail to and from you friends and family located almost
anywhere in the world. You can join an listen to discussions and debates on a
wide variety of special interest topics.

2. Shopping

One of the fastest growing applications of Interest is electronic commerce.

You can visit a cyber mall for making purchases.

3. Researching

Internet provides you to have one of the world's largest libraries available
from home.

4. Entertainment

Do you like music, the moves and reading or playing computer games? You can
find them all on Internet waiting for you to locate and enjoy.