3.7 Planning For Transportation and Information ...

Businesses need to be linked with their employees, customers and vendors.

Networking is the electronic linking of geographically dispersed devices

Networking Reasons

	Sharing of technology resources: networking enable sharing of expensive technology resources. For
	example, networking enables multiple users to use printers or scanners. Employees can also share software
	stored on file server.

	Data sharing: Employees can share data stored in central database or even files stored on computers of each
	other.

	Distributed data processing: the processing power can be distributed to multiple nodes at multiple sites.
	Client/server architecture is an example of distributed processing.

	Enhanced communication: through voice over IP, organizations can make free phone calls. Meetings and
	conferences may be conducted virtually over the web saving time and money

3.7 Planning For Transportation and Information ...

Types of Networks

	Local area network: it is a network that links computer devices within the same geographic area. It operates
	within an area no more than 2 or 3 miles in diameter.

	Wide area network (WAN): it is a network that spans much greater distance and links large geographic regions
	using microwave and satellite.

	Metropolitan area network (MAN): it is a network spanning area larger than LAN but smaller than WAN. It is
	used to connect devices within the same city.

Network Topologies

	Bus topology: it is one of the most popular topology of networks in which computers and networks are
	connected in a single line.

Ring topology: it is a type of topology in which computer devices are connected in a circle or ring.

Star topology: computers are connected to central computer called hub