Transcript Network Software and Applications

3 Computing System
Fundamentals
3.4 Networked Computer Systems
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3.4.6 Networking Software
Network software
• Servers on LANs have network versions of
the operating systems e.g. Windows Server to
handle authentication (log in), security,
resource management, etc.
• Clients of the server must have network
protocols and NIC drivers installed
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Network software
• For a computer to access a WAN e.g. the
internet, the OS must include a modem
network driver to handle the protocols,
• For the WWW, a browser,
• For e-mail, a mail client.
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Network models
• Thin client networks require very little
software on the client - everything is run from
the server.
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) requires no central coordination - each computer acts as consumer
and supplier of data.
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Hosting
• A web site requires a permanently-on, secure,
backed up computer as a server.
• Many sites use third-party hosting services.
• The host also provide scripting (extra
interactivity), security, e-mail and database
services that most individuals cannot.
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Web applications
• Much data and many apps are now moving
“into the cloud” i.e. online e.g. Google Docs,
Wikispaces
• Although this is much more convenient for
access anywhere, there may be possible
disputes over ownership and possible loss of
privacy.
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Business uses for networking
• These include:
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internal communications,
electronic mail,
e-commerce,
video/teleconferencing,
distributed processing.
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Internal communications
• These include:
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VOIP,
collaborative wikis,
messaging services,
chat.
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Electronic mail
• E-mail has the advantage that it is:
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paperless,
fast,
searchable,
archivable.
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Electronic commerce
• E-commerce handles:
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sales and publicity,
ordering,
stock control,
distribution and
payment.
• Amazon is a good example.
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Video/teleconferencing
• This requires audio/video software, webcam,
microphones and speakers.
• A good example is Skype.
• Video-conferencing reduces travel (saves
time, money and emissions) and increases
accessibility to meetings.
• It requires a fast connection and is not
suitable as first contact with a customer.
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Distributed processing
• This is similar to P2P file sharing.
• Many small networked computers can be
made to process large amounts of data as if
they were equivalent to a supercomputer.
• An example is SETI at home.
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