Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Extranet
Extranet works similarly to the intranet. However these are hosted by
service providers. So for example you would have to pay a subscription fee,
or register in order to access information or services on these web sites.
Intranet
An intranet is a network that contains file servers containing different
databases, or internal web sites. It may also be defined as a website set up
for internal use, usually within a company or educational instituition. This is
a closed site which may be accessed from outside if the hardware, software
and passwords are known. It is an efficient way to disseminate information
to employees and visitors. It is effectively the same as providing and
managing your own web site within an organisation which may contain
confidential information not intended for outsiders. It has great potential in
the area of staff training and finding information that would normally be
printed in manuals. The time savings aspects of these activities alone make
the system all worth while.
LAN aware software refers to stand alone programs that have been modified to work on a
LAN. They allow multiple users access to applications and files and take full advantage
of the peripheral attached to the network. Concurrency controls such as file and record
locking are built into the programs, and communication features such as electronic mail
are available.
LAN intrinsic software refers to programs designed to share the processing power of
several computers, distributing data and computer power across a network. There are few
LAN intrinsic applications currently available, but a database client/ server software is an
example.
LAN specific software refers to software that requires a LAN to operate effectively.
Email and groupware fall into this category. Groupware is a broad class of software that
allows members of a group of users to work together without participants having to be in
the same place or available at the same time, for example several people working to
perfect a document. Popular groupware include scheduling, document processing, time
management and conferencing.
Using LANs
Using a LAN is different from using a stand alone computer. You depend on equipment
that is not on your desktop. You have no control over the version of software or the type
of peripheral devices that are available to you. You must learn to remember your access
code and password, recall where files and data are stored on the LAN, and remember
how to direct your output to the desired printer. You will be required to learn the
appropriate email application so you can communicate with your co-workers; and if you
are involved in a work group you are required to learn the appropriate groupware
application.
Junction Box
Antenna
Head End
Internet
Router
must choose an outgoing line on which to forward data from the incoming
line. These are commonly your routers.
It is quite feasible to have a LAN at each branch of a company.
Occasionally they will need to call on bigger facilities and there may be
hook ups to other computer systems. So a WAN can be made up of several
different LANs.
Security
Management
Expandability
It is important to build extra communication links in the network to ensure
reliability and to share the workload.
Interconnectivity