a. A secondary school has over twenty personal computers. The school management intends to connect all the computer in a network. Give four reasons that mus...

This scenario tests the reasons for networking computers and the devices needed to build a network.

(a) Four reasons that motivated connecting the computers.

• To share hardware resources such as printers and scanners among many users.
• To share files and data easily between the computers.
• To enable communication (for example messaging and email) between users.
• To allow centralised management, security and backup, and to share a single Internet connection (also reducing cost).

(b) Four network devices required. A switch (or hub), a router, a network interface card (NIC), and transmission cable such as UTP with connectors (a modem or wireless access point is also acceptable).

(c) One function each of any two of the devices.

• Switch: connects computers within the network and forwards data only to the specific computer it is addressed to.
• Router: connects the network to another network (such as the Internet) and directs data along the best path between networks.
• (NIC: gives a computer its network address and provides the physical connection to the network.)

Examination reminder: distinguish the two connecting devices - a switch links computers within one network, while a router links different networks together.