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	BENEFITS OF A COMPUTER NETWORK PRINTER Networks are able to use one printer for numerous computers. This allows many individual computers to access a single network printer. This saves money and space for the organization. DATA Once networks were setup, people found that the next best thing was the ability to easily share documents. The type of server that stores files is called a file server. Data can be in the form of text, images, numbers or characters. PROGRAMS Server or Network based programs are programs that are loaded on to an online server or network as opposed to directly onto the individual computers. This program can therefor be accessed by any computer possessing the correct amount of bandwidth and system specifications. In short, it uses the server as an application server. WORK BETTER Organizations use networks for many purposes, such as making schedules for colleagues, picking up days for meetings (when everybody will be able to attend) and providing useful online connections for network-linked employees. Employees can communicate on a network with other employees through email. HARDWARE: Topologies bus All nodes are connected to a single wire or cable (the bus) which has two endpoints. Each communications device on the network transmits electronic messages to other devices. If some of those messages collide, the sending device will wait and then try to transmit again. The advantage of bus network is that it is can be organized as a peer-to-peer network or client/server network. It is also relatively inexpensive to install. The disadvantage is that if the bus network fails, the whole system network fails. The wider the bus the better! ring The ring network is a network in which all communications devices and microprocessors are connected in a continuous loop. Electronic messages pass around the ring until they reach the correct destination; there is no central server. The advantage of a ring network is that messages only flow in one direction. The disadvantage is that if a single connection is broken, the whole network stops working. The distributed star or tree topology can provide many of the advantages of the bus and the star topologies. It connects workstations to a central point, called a hub. This hub can support several workstations or hubs which, in turn, can support other workstations. Distributed star topologies can be easily adapted to the physical arrangement of the facility site. (Integrated Publishing) star A network that links all microcomputer and other communication devices through a central server. The advantages of this hub is that it prevents impact between messages. The network forms a star shape having the central server in the middle with a single branch outward, the branch will not branch to another device. Other Advantages Include: * Good performance. * Scalable, Easy to set up and to expand. * Any non-centralised failure will have very little effect on the network, whereas on a ring network it would all fail with one fault. * Easy to detect faults * Data Packets are sent quickly as they do not have to travel through any unnecessary nodes. * It is used for centralised control.