Having a network gives a lot of flexibility in using PCs. Files can be consolidated onto servers so users dont have to keep duplicate copies. As home networks have increased in popularity, software for using networks for interesting new things has appeared, such as video over LAN systems. This lets multiple users watch video over a network from a central location without needing to copy large files to the local machine first.
In addition to storage, networks are useful for sharing resources such as printers and scanners. These can either be attached to a PC, which then shares them, or have dedicated network hardware. Some high-end printers have onboard print servers that connect directly to Ethernet. There are also third-party print servers that usually have an Ethernet port and one or more USB ports designed to connect to a printer or other USB devices, like hard drives, and share them on the network. Small Network Attached Storage (NAS) units are also becoming popular as an easier way to expand storage than installing more internal hard drives. These devices range from simple just get the drive on the network models to more advanced units that support RAID, specific space allocations for each user, and other features.
The increasing speed of wireless connections is likely to have an effect on how networks and PCs are used. With the coming of wireless USB, it will start to become very easy and convenient to add devices by just placing them in proximity of a wireless signal, rather than installing them in a PC or running cables. This will allow more decentralised designs, where multiple PCs can share resources easier. This in turn is likely to split what most people consider a PC into several units for processing, storage and other functions, instead of having everything in one case as it is now.
Author: Marius Bezuidenhout
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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