FILE ORGANIZATION

AND YOUR NETWORK

Networks

A network is a group of computers that can communicate or “talk” to each other through connections or links.

Computers are linked together by cabling or wireless satellite and a network interface card.

An advantage of a computer network is that users can share files and resources.

Networks are usually protected so that no unauthorized users can access those resources. The first line of defense on a network is a _____________ and a ________.

Two Types of Networks

LAN – Local Area Network Computers are geographically close

together White Plains High computers are an

example of a Local Area Network WAN – Wide Area Network

Computers usually communicate using wireless connections and are not close together geographically

The Internet is the largest WAN.

How do networks work?

Each personal computer in a network is called a client.

A server is a high-speed computer that stores information to be shared and provides it to requesting clients.

Each computer in a network is connected in some way to the server.

It’s kind of like going to a fancy restaurant!

Your class members (or the clients) look at the menu and give your order to a waiter.

The waiter takes the order to the chef (the server) who prepares meals for everyone who has ordered.

The waiter then brings the meal back to you (the client).

White Plains High Local Area Network

Computer lab computers

Library

Room 4

WPHS Server

CCBOE

Gym

Class-room

Class-room

Class-room

Class-room

Class-room

Diagram of Networks

Calhoun County Schools Server

Alex. High

Alex. Elem.

WPHSWPMS

WPES

Weaver Schools

I

NTERNET

Ohatchee schools

PV schools

Saks Schools

Career Tech

Wellborn Schools

Small Home Office

Peer-to-Peer

Side by Side

Small Office (Wired) Home (Wireless)

Home Network Hardware

Wifi

Why use a hub?

Hub How a Hub Works

Networking Hardware

Switch Router

Using your Computer Like a Filing Cabinet

Your school locker is an important place to you. You can store your books and folders

between classes. You can store pens and pencils. You can store assignments. You can store a few pictures.

Neat students arrange everything in a logical order.

How do we organize?

Neat Students Arrange Everything in Logical Order Each class has its own

notebook or folder All assignments are

arranged by date or project title.

Not-so-neat students simply throw one thing on top of another. Good luck trying to find

that assignment!

Being organized Computers don’t like disorganization. Just as you use folders and notebooks

for different classes, computers use drives, libraries, and files to store information.

Your computer’s hard drive is like your locker – it stores thousands of files. Some of those files run your

computer’s operating system. Others run applications. Still others contain data that you or

someone else may have created.

What is a file?

Files are storage places for data. Data can be in any form: numbers, text,

images, and even voice and video. You create files and name them using an

application program. You can tell what kind of a file it is by its icon

and its letter extension (after the period). For example, dog.jpg is a picture; myfamily.docx is a Word 2010 document.

Other extensions

.xsl – Excel document .ppt or .pptx—Powerpoint document .txt—text file .pdf—Adobe read only file .bmp – bitmap (picture) .png – ping (picture) .gif –graphics interface (picture)

What is a library?

Another name for folder or directory Like file folders in a filing cabinet Folders are used as logical places to put

related files. Let’s create a folder for you now and

learn how to organize your files.

What is a drive?

Storage places for data A hard drive is the primary storage area on your

computer. (C:\) It offers large storage capacity and fast retrieval.

Floppy Drives (A:\ and B:\) hold 1.44 mb of information and are removable.

Network Drives are assigned letters from F: to Z: and are treated the same as a hard drive. These are located on the server.

What letters are used for the CD Rom drive, the DVD player and flash drives?

File Hierarchy System

Files are placed in folders. Folders are placed in Drives or other Folders. The root directory is your starting place.

A:\ or B:\ - floppy C:\ - hard drive inside computer D:\ - DVD player E:\ - flash drives F:-Z:\ - Network drives located on the server (On your computers, the letter J: is mapped as a

jump drive instead of a network drive.)

Let’s Look At Our Typical Directory Structure

So, where do we save your files on the network?

1. To your folder on the server which is the ____ Drive. There you will find a folder created just for you named ____________.

2. Sometimes you will also save to a To Be Graded folder. You can find this folder on the server also by going to the ___ drive and then ___________ and ___________.

Review

What drive letter is our network drive? Is White Plains High’s network a LAN or a

WAN? Is Calhoun County School’s network a LAN or a

WAN? What is the largest WAN? What are two basic protections for a network? What is the advantage of using a network?

Review

What is each personal computer in a network called?

What is the main computer called that talks to all of the computers on a network?

How can you tell by looking at a list of files what type of file it is?