Local Area and Wide Area Networks This icon indicates the slide contains activities created in Flash. These activities are not editable. For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation.

Local Area Networks A group of computers connected together form a network. Computers in a Local Area Network (LAN) are fairly close together, generally within a building. Computers can be connected together using cabling or infrared transmitters to provide a wireless LAN.

Wide Area Networks A Wide Area Network (WAN) is spread over a much larger area and connects computers in different buildings, on different sites or even in different countries.

WANs use global communications such as telephones, satellite or cable to connect the computers. The Internet is a global WAN.

Advantages and disadvantages

Network management A network manager will be in charge of running the network. There are lots of things to decide when you set up a network: What user names and passwords will be used? Where will the programs and data files be stored? Who is allowed to see which files? Where will the printers go? How often will it be backed up? Networks need special software called network operating systems to control security and handle administrative tasks.

Users of a network often have different levels of access Users of a network often have different levels of access. What does each person's level of access allow them to do?

Summary Computers can be linked together into networks. Networked computers can share hardware, software and data with other users on the network. LANs are Local Area Networks – fairly close together and usually joined by cables. WANs are Wide Area Networks – bigger and usually linked by communication satellites through the telephone system. Networks need network operating systems. They also need trained network managers. Different users of a network will have different rights.