Friday, October 21, 2011

Assignment 3 P5:typical services provided by networks


Directory services

A directory service is a network service that stores, organises and makes resources available to users and application. Resources like e-mail addresses, computers, and devices like printers. It also ensures the computer networks are properly secured.

Account management:
Provides uniform access, manages and develops user’s access to computing resources; every user has to remember a single username and password. The users can search the directory and access the central and departmental file servers, application and printers across the campus network. It also makes sure the IT security is in good strength. Account management lowers the computing costs by reducing the number of servers needed for their department.

Authentication management:
Authentication management is the process of updating passwords and managing other types of authenticators like password, answering personal questions, a smart card etc. For example if you change your password in a school network then it will automatically result in changing your GroupWise password and any other website which the school network is connected like My Big Campus. Another example of authentication is when a security question is asked when you have forgotten your password of your social networking sites.

Active directory:  
Active directory is a directory service. It is built-in most server operating systems. It is in charge for authenticating and authorizing of all users and computers in the network and putting up security policies for all computers within the network as well as installing or updating software. It is the central location for network administration and security. When a user logs into a computer within the network, Active directory identifies whether this person is a normal user or the system administration.

DNS:
DNS stands for Domain Name System and consists of a network of servers that map Internet domain names. It performs forensic examination of name and email servers, authenticates and finds domains. Keeps an eye out on email, monitor web and connectivity and checks on any mistrustful activity. Identifies and tracks particular domains. It translates IP addresses into numbers. E.g. the domain name www.example.com translates to the addresses 192.0.32.10 (IPv4) and 2620:0:2d0:200::10 (IPv6).

Telecommunication

Tele communications is a variety of technologies that send information over varied distances. Mobiles, telephones, VoIP are all telecommunication technologies. There are other telecommunications like radio and television etc.

Communication can be done through email, internet relay chat (IRC) discussion boards:

Email is electronic mail. There are email servers that accept, forward, deliver, and store messages, so the users computers doesn’t need to be online 24/7; They just need to be connected to an email server to send and receive emails e.g. GroupWise email.

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is online instant communication over the Internet. It is designed for groups many-to-many or one-to-one or even one-to-many communication in discussion boards like channels, online tutors. Users can join the conversation and send messages to it, which shows to all the others users communicating in the same conversation. Internet Relay chat can be used in organisation when there are meetings or group conversation, everyone discussing and contributing their ideas, they can communicate from anywhere around the world e.g. home, everyone doesn’t need to be in one place.

Remote access e.g. via mobiles, remote desktop, social networking:
Remote desktop allows a user to enter in another computer on the user’s network. It allows to access data and applications, using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).
Social networking allows user to interact online on web through computers or mobile technologies.

File services

File services commands to carry out the task that are needed to read, update, add, delete and browse data in local or remote files. E.g. File Server Resource Manager is a collection of tools that allow administration to understand, control, and manage the quantity and type of data stored on their servers.

File transfer is transmitting files over a computer network or the Internet.

File sharing is sharing out information like computer programs, multimedia (audio, images and video), documents or electronic books.

Application services

Application service is a third-party providing a software-based services and solutions to customers over a network.

Application software’s are designed computer programs to help the user to perform tasks. This software’s can be for general purpose like word processing, web browsing or specific purpose like accounting.

Shared resources are devices or information on a computer that is shared within a Local area network or Intranet. The resources can be accessed anywhere from another computer e.g. shared printer and scanner access.

Voice over IP is Voice over Internet Protocol, which has the ability to take analogue audio signals and turn them into digital data that is routed over the Internet.

Mobile working: Cloud computing is sharing all of you resources through the Internet, which can be accessed from your laptop, computer, mobile technology or tablet.