GNVQ ICT - Intermediate

Unit 10 - Networks and Communications

Hyperlinks on the level above: [Home Page for Unit 10] [ Network Hardware ] [ Network Software ] [ Network Security ] [ Other Security Issues ] [ Network Manager ]

Hyperlinks:

On this level:

Network Servers
Network Cards
Network Hub
Connecting cables and wireless

On the level below:

Types of Network Servers:

File server – a main computer on a network that stores all the user files (and usually also the software applications) – when a user at Hyde Tech saves a file it is stored in their own user area – on drive N: on one of the file servers.

This photo shows a file server inside a secure cabinet.  The cabinet is locked to prevent intruders. 

Print server – a main computer that handles printing – on a large network it would be too expensive (and wasteful) to provide a printer for every workstation – so printers are usually shared between groups of computers.  When a user sends a file to be printed it joins a “print queue” which is stored on the print server until the printer has finished its previous job.  Then the file is “spooled” to the printer and the hard copy of the work is printed.

Web server – At Hyde we have a computer that is always connected to the Internet – to work properly it must have special software installed – so that it works like a main Internet server computer – this is called “proxy” software – and the server is sometimes called a “proxy server”.  Between the proxy server and the broadband connection to the Internet is a hardware device called a router.  This translates the requests made by users at workstations around the school into codes that can be understood across the worldwide network of computers that is the Internet.

Multimedia server – some applications – such as the CDROM encyclopaedia Encarta – include video clips and animations.  These send a lot of data along the network cables and require a powerful server to keep up with the speed of the video clips etc.

Videoconferencing server – In the near future Hyde will be installing a videoconferencing system which will enable a high quality connection between up to 4 schools in the Tameside area.  A very powerful computer will be needed as a server to make these types of connection possible.

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Please email your comments to mail@ictgnvq.org.uk    Created by K C Parry - Please email your comments to kcparry@ictgnvq.org.uk