The document discusses different types of computer networks. A local area network (LAN) connects devices within a single location like a school or office, while a wide area network (WAN) connects LANs over a larger geographical area using public infrastructure like the Internet. A metropolitan area network (MAN) is larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN, typically encompassing a city. Networks can be configured in different topologies like bus, star, ring, and peer-to-peer. They can also use different architectures like client-server, where a server provides resources to client devices, or peer-to-peer where devices have equal priority and share resources directly.

1. Network Basics
By K.Baxter

2. Network Types

3. Wide Area Network
 The Internet is a WAN 
 WANs are LANs connected to other LANs 
 WANs use publically available telecoms infrastructure 
 WANs facilitate business activities from any location 
Metropolitan Area Network
 In simple terms a MAN is larger than a LAN but smaller than a
WAN
 MANs usually cover a city wide area or large region 

4. Local Area Network
 Located at a single sight such as a School or Office 
 Connected with equipment owned by the business 
 Maintained in-house by staff or 3rd party contractor 
 Central storage of data = easy sharing of data 
 Central storage of data = easier backing-up of data 
 Computers can be centrally reconfigured and updated 
 Security policies can be administered centrally 
 Easier internal communication between users 
 Shared peripherals e.g. Scanners, printers and media drives/disk 
• Maintenance can be expensive and specialist staff required 
• Network problems can cause delays to all users 
• Security is always a risk with any Network 

5. Client-Server
Hub or
Switch Server
Client 1 Client 3
Client 2
 Servers are high-end computers capable of handling network functions 
 Servers have plenty of storage and enough speed and processing power to
serve the needs of connected computers 
 A Network can have more than one server 
 A server doesn’t always have to be a separate physical machine a server can
have virtual server software to serve multiple needs 
• More complex to set-up that a peer-to-peer Network 
• More expensive equipment required 
• Faulty server = No Network 

6. Network Types

7. Peer-to-Peer
Hub or
Switch Server
Client 1 Client 3
Client 2
 Each computer has equal priority 
 Computers on a peer-to-peer network can also be used as standalone
PCs 
 Easy to set-up 
• More difficult to maintain than a Client-Server Network 
• Less secure than a Client-Server Network
• Slow due to heavy network traffic 

8. Bus Topology
Terminator Server Printer
Computers and devices connected to a single backbone.
 Easy set-up 
 Cheap 
• Limited distance 
• Data collision can slow down Network 
• Faulty backbone = No Network 

9. Token-Ring Topology
 Very Fast – No Collisions 
• Faulty backbone = No
Network 
• Data passes through each
node = Higher level of
vulnerability 

10. Star Topology
Client Nodes are connected to a
central hub or switch this is
usually connected to one or
more Servers
 One faulty Node does not
bring down the entire
Network 
 Less collision than a bus
Network = faster connection

• Higher level of expertise
required to maintain it 
• More expensive to set-up 
• More building work required

• More Hardware/Software
needed 
Switches

11. Thank you for viewing this short presentation
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