b) Network System :

-> Definition of network : computers linked together allowing resources to be shared and data to be transfered.

* most computers nowadays are linked together in network, either to other computers in a building (LAN), or to computers around the world (WAN).

* this allows hardware and software to be shared and users to communicate with each other.

example ;

- computers in schoolare networked so that any user can log on at any machine.

learn the right terms of to talk about linking networks :

1) a bridge can be used to link wo similar LANs together.

2) a gateway/router is used to link together two different networks - e.g. connecting LAN to a WAN.

3) a repeater is used to boost (amplify) the signal on a LAN which covers a long distance.

The two major types of network operating systems are :

1) peer-to-peer : this is when a small number of computers are linked and can communicate but there is no central file server. it is easy and straightforward to set up and the software to do so is often contained in teh operating system.

2) client-server : this is where there is main server that controls the network. the computers linked to it are called clients, hence the name client-server network. It requires specialised softwar running on the server and is needed when there is a reasonably large number of users (say over 10).