Q1: What are the advantages of using a Network?

Hardware Sharing

• Network facilitate the sharing of hardware devices such as printer, plotters and modem

Data Sharing

• enable many people to access and share the same data such as database and group software development.

Connectivity and Communication

• Network connect computers and the users of those computers.

Internet Access Sharing

•  Small computer networks allow multiple users to share a single Internet connection.

Q2: How are a Star Network, Bus Network, and Ring Network different?

Q3: How are LANs, MANs, and WANs different?

A LAN (local area network) is a group of computers and network devices connected together, usually within the same building. By definition, the connections must be high speed and relatively inexpensive (e.g., token ring or Ethernet). Most Indiana University Bloomington departments are on LANs.

A LAN connection is a high-speed connection to a LAN. On the IUB campus, most connections are either Ethernet (10 Mbps) or Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps), and a few locations have Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps) connections.

A MAN (metropolitan area network) is a larger network that usually spans several buildings in the same city or town. The IUB network is an example of a MAN.

A WAN (wide area network), in comparison to a MAN, is not restricted to a geographical location, although it might be confined within the bounds of a state or country. A WAN connects several LANs, and may be limited to an enterprise (a corporation or an organization) or accessible to the public. The technology is high speed and relatively expensive. The Internet is an example of a worldwide public WAN.