Network Applications
Learning Outcomes:
- Describe the services provided by common network servers.
- The common network servers include the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, domain controller, file server, proxy server, and gateway, etc.
- Describe and appreciate the applications of various networks.
- The applications include resources sharing, web serving, and telecommunicating, etc.
- Simple knowledge of the latest mobile computing applications and their role in supporting the mobile business, mobile government services and mobile life initiatives should be discussed.
- Describe the different personnel involved in a networking environment.
- The types of personnel should include network engineers and network administrators.
Common network servers:
DHCP server, domain controller, file server, proxy server,
gateway
DHCP server
- Function: dynamically assign IP addresses to devices on a network
- Advantages:
- Automatically assign IP addresses i.e. no need for manual configuration
- All assigned IP addresses are unique
- Released IP addresses can be reassigned automatically
- Disadvantages:
- A server is required
- Increase network traffic between device and server
- More difficult to identify individual devices as IP addresses are dynamic i.e. not fixed
Relevant past paper:
DSE ICT Elect B(SP-2017): PP 1diii. 2012 1ci. 2013 1biii.
2016 3ci.
CE CIT Elec C(2005-2011): 2005 4dii. 2006 1j. 2008 3fi.
AS CA(2000-2013): 2007 9d. 2012 10bi. 2013 10 bii,c.
More on static/dynamic IP address:
CE CIT Elec C(2005-2011): 2007 1e. 2009 3b. 2010 3c,4bi,ii.
2012 10bii.
Domain controller (DO NOT confuse with DNS – Domain Name System)
- Function: authentication and authorization
- Authentication: manage authentication/login requests
- Authorisation: access rights to different resources
- Server with similar purpose: RADIUS server for authentication
Relevant past paper:
DSE ICT Elect B(SP-2017): SP 2dii. PP 4ciii. 2017 4b,ci.
File server
- Central server for storage of files
- Advantages:
- centralized management allows better security management.
- High power server allows efficient sharing of files.
Relevant past paper:
CE CIT Elec C(2005-2011): 2009 2di. 2011 3ei.
AS CA(2000-2013): 2005 10biii.
Proxy server
- Functions: Make a copy of a visited website. Block the visit to certain websites.
- Advantages: Faster access to websites which is previously visited. Reduced network traffic as no need to repeatedly download the content. Better security and network access management.
- Risks: leaking of sensitive data as any information passing through the proxy can be logged and subsequently stolen.
Tips: compare with firewall in terms of filtering. i.e. website
filtering vs packet filtering.
Relevant past paper:
DSE ICT Elect B(SP-2017): PP 3a. 2012 1cii. 2014 3aii,bi. 2015 3b. 2017
2dii,iii.
CE CIT Elec C(2005-2011): 2008 1e. 2009 4f. 2011 3eiii.
AS CA(2000-2013): 2008 10d.
Gateway
- Functions: allow communication between different networks which may have different protocols.
- Technically speaking, it combines the function of a modem and a router.
Relevant past paper:
DSE ICT Elect B(SP-2017): 2013 1bi. 2016 3ciii.
CE CIT Elec C(2005-2011): 2010 4biii.
Other servers:
Domain Name System (DNS) server – refer to compulsory part
Printer server
Relevant past paper:
CE CIT Elec C(2005-2011): 2005 3bc. 2006 4cd. 2008 4bii.
2010 4bv. 2011 3eii,4fi,ii.
AS CA(2000-2013): 2009 9eii,iii. 2012 10di.
Applications of various networks
- This part focuses on applications of network use in different real life situations.
- Examples: e-commerce, farming, online exam system
- Considerations in designing a system:
- Network traffic
- Front-end applications
- Security
Relevant past paper:
DSE ICT Elect B(SP-2017):
SP 1b, 2c. 2013 4b. 2014 1b, 2di,iii.
CE CIT Elec C(2005-2011): 2011 1abc.
AS CA(2000-2013): 2006 10a.
Personnel
- Network administrator
- Installation, maintenance and update of network
- Network documentation, monitoring
- Troubleshooting and security management
- Network engineering
- Design and setup network
- Design test plan
- Documentation
- User training
Relevant past paper:
DSE ICT Elect B(SP-2017):
SP 4a. 2012 4e.
CE CIT Elec C(2005-2011): 2006 4a.
References:
https://www.efficientip.com/what-is-dhcp-and-why-is-it-important/
https://www.varonis.com/blog/domain-controller/
https://www.varonis.com/blog/what-is-a-proxy-server/
