Networks background:-

First I want to describe what network is, it is a collection of machines that connected together to make use of 3 important princebles:-

1. Share the resource on the network. Like the data, printers, internet connections and even if any resource that you can share.

2. make a load blanc, by divide the work on more than one machine. It is very useful of course.

3. make a ceterlaize management to you network, so you can manage all the network resources from any machine, and the same time all the information is saved on one central machine. (I will clear this point later).

You can divide machines at any network into:

1. Client:
The machines that usually use the services that provide by servers at this network. It is not important to be a super machine i.e. good processor, ram, hard. Because they not always accessed by others machines. (small load)

2. server:
the machine that provide one or more service to the network. It is typically as any other machine on the network, the only difference that it offer a service.
services: (web server, DHCP, DNS, DC… etc) don't wary I will explain all of them later (may be at another doc).

You can divide networks into 2 typs:

1. Peer to Peer network:
all the machine are clients. (if you use Kazza program you may notice this word some where. It is mean that there is no server to manage this network. All PCs[at this case] are connected together to share the recourse at this network (it virtual network at Kazza case)

2. client/server network:
contain both kinds of machines, Client and server.

>> Notes:

Microsoft OS guide:

• win 2k professional edition: for clients machines.
• Win 2k server, advanced server, data center: for server machines. (it is not our subject now to show the different between them :)

Or you can divide networks into:

1. workgroup:
did you ask your self what happen when you log on to win 2k operating system (by the way before I forget win 2k= win 2000 :))? You have 2 choice at the beginig to log:

a. locally: of course the user name and password you will write is stored on the local data base to this computer (called SAM).

b. Domain: there is a server contain the hole data base for all the authorized people on this domain. Any one want to access the domain must be athurized (take the permission) first from this server. It named DC (domain computer). And the big data base called AD (active directory)

2. domain:
when you log you must log with user name/ password exist on the AD, and you can access any domain resource after loging whithout need to log on again loccaly to the machin you want to access. (at the work group, if you want to access another machine in the network you must have a user name/ password stored locally at this (distenation) machine. You can imagine if the work group contain 10 machines you must have 10 user name/ password stored on each machine. So work group always used for small network.

Final notes:

• I hope that you like this paper.
• Any comment, correction, recommendation or question send via e-mail to tahama_2000@islamway.net
• The next paper will be about network componets, i.e. what you need to build a network.
• I know that my English is very bad, so no one complain or send a spelling correction :)
• This paper written by [Taha (qp)]. For refrances send me e-mail ok:)
• I promise to share all what I have. I will try my best to send a paper per magazine. Hope that you accept me as a member :).

Taha

(qp)