Networks : Control of Network Resources

One of the most important reasons for connecting computers to a network is to let the computers on the network share expensive resources such as file storage space and printers. Access to these resources must be managed in some way. This can be achieved using either a server based network or a peer-to-peer network.

The most common type of network used in a business or school environment is a server based network. On a server based network access to shared resources like storage devices and printers is obtained through special server computers. Three different types of computer are usually connected to a server based network :

• Stations : Computers which users work on and are connected to the network.
• File Server : A computer which stores and controls access to all the users’ files.
• Printer Server : A computer which controls access to one or more shared printers.

The file server must ensure that people can only access files that they are permitted to. Most file servers do this by making each user log on with a user name and password before they can access any files. The user name that a user logs on with will determine which files the user can access.

The printer server controls access to shared network printers. Each station on the network can print out on the printer(s) connected to the printer server. If lots of people try to print at the same time then the printer server puts all the documents that are being printed in a queue. The documents are usually printed by the printer server in the order that they were sent by the users.

A large server based network may have more than one file or printer server connected to it.

Peer-to-peer networks do not have special computers which are used as servers. Instead any computer on the network can load information from the hard disk of any other computer. A computer on the network can use any printer connected to any other computer.

Peer-to-peer networks are cheaper to set up and easier to manage than server based networks. They are however less secure. Because of this peer-to-peer networks are used mainly by small companies who trust their employees and do not have the necessary technical staff to maintain a server based network.

GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004