Page 117 - Webapplication11_C11_Flipbook
P. 117

Server
                 A server, also known as a host computer, is a computer that controls access to the hardware and software on the
                 network and provides a centralised storage area for the programs, data, and information. It is responsible for providing
                 services to all the computers connected to the network. A network can have multiple servers. Each server has a unique
                 name that all nodes in the network use to identify it. There are two types of servers:

                                                                  Server





                                             Dedicated Server                  Non-dedicated Server

                 Ð ÐDedicated Server: A dedicated server is typically utilized in large computer network deployments. It is a special
                   computer that is allotted to handle all the server’s task. It facilitates the availability of data, software, and hardware
                   resources to all the nodes connected to the network. It does not double as a workstation but simply maintains the
                   network, and these networks are known as master-slave networks.
                  ÐNon-dedicated Server: A workstation that can function as a server in a small network is known as non-dedicated
                 Ð
                   server. Peer-to-Peer(P2P) networks are small networks that use such type of server.

                 Client
                 A client is a computer that depends on the server for all its resources. It sends a request to the server for any resources
                 and gets server responses with the requested service. For example, a server might store a network version of the Excel
                 program. Every client on the network can access the Excel program from the server.
                 NIU (Network Interface Unit)

                 A network interface unit is a device that connects each workstation to the
                 server  and  allows  the  server  and  workstations  to  communicate  with  one
                 another. When a solitary computer becomes a workstation, it requires an
                 interface to allow it to connect to the network; otherwise, workstations will
                 be unable to share network resources or communicate with one another. The
                 Network Interface Card (NIC), also known as the Terminal Access Point (TAP),
                 serves as an interpreter. Each NIC card is given a unique physical address by
                 the NIC manufacturer, which is known as the MAC address.

                 Switching Techniques
                 Data is efficiently transmitted over the network using switching techniques. Let us understand what these switching
                 techniques are exactly. There are two types of switching techniques used today to facilitate communication between
                 two computers on a network:



                                                             Switching Techniques





                                             Circuit Switching                  Packet Switching

                 Circuit Switching

                 A  communication  technique  in  which  a  dedicated  and  continuous  connection  is  established  between  a  sender
                 and receiver to communicate with each other is called circuit switching. It requires a physical connection between
                 computers to work.
                                                                                              Basics of Networking   115
   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122