NETWORKING
TECHNOLOGIES & PROTOCOLS
Several
advantages the computer networks provide to business and individuals are
:
-
A network provides the means to exchange data
among computers located separately, and to make programs and data available
to the people of the organizations which are geographically separated.
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The networking of computers permits the sharing
of resources of the machines.
-
Networking also provides the critical function
of backup. In the event that one computer fails, its counterpart can assume
its function and workload.
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The use of networking allows a
very flexible working environment. Employees in organization can work at
home by using terminals tied through networks into the computer at the
office.
Networking arose from the need
to share data in a timely fashion. Personal computers are business tools
for producing data, spreadsheets, graphics, and other types of information,
but do not allow us to quickly share the data we have produced. |
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Without a network, the documents
have to be printed out so that others can use or edit them. At best, we
give files on floppy disks/CDs to others so they can copy to their computers.
If others make changes to the document there is no way to merge the changes.
This was, and still is, called working in a stand-alone environment.
Networks can be used to standardize
applications, such as word processor, to ensure that everyone on the network
is using the same application and the same version of that application.
Computers that are part of
a network can share data, messages, graphics, printers, fax machines, modems,
and/or other hardware resources.
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