FILE ORGANIZATION

FILE ORGANIZATION AND YOUR NETWORK

Networks • A network is a group of computers that can communicate or “talk” to each other through connections or links. • Computers are linked together by cabling or wireless satellite and a network interface card. • An advantage of a computer network is that users can share files and resources. • Networks are usually protected so that no unauthorized users can access those resources. The first line of defense on a network is a _____________ and a ________.

Two Types of Networks • LAN – Local Area Network • Computers are geographically close together • White Plains High computers are an example of a Local Area Network • WAN – Wide Area Network • Computers usually communicate using wireless connections and are not close together geographically • The Internet is the largest WAN.

How do networks work? • Each personal computer in a network is called a client. • A server is a high-speed computer that stores information to be shared and provides it to requesting clients. • Each computer in a network is connected in some way to the server.

It’s kind of like going to a fancy restaurant! • Your class members (or the clients) look at the menu and give your order to a waiter. • The waiter takes the order to the chef (the server) who prepares meals for everyone who has ordered. • The waiter then brings the meal back to you (the client).

White Plains High Local Area Network Gym Computer lab computers Room 4 CCBOE Library Class-room WPHS Server Class-room Class-room Class-room Class-room

Diagram of Networks Weaver Schools Saks Schools Career Tech Calhoun County Schools Server Alex. Elem. I NTERNET Alex. High WPES Wellborn Schools WPMS WPHS PV schools Ohatchee schools

Small Home Office

Peer-to-Peer

Side by Side Small Office (Wired) Home (Wireless)

Home Network Hardware

Wifi

Why use a hub? Hub How a Hub Works

Networking Hardware Switch Router

Using your Computer Like a Filing Cabinet • Your school locker is an important place to you. • You can store your books and folders between classes. • You can store pens and pencils. • You can store assignments. • You can store a few pictures. • Neat students arrange everything in a logical order.

Neat Students Arrange Everything in Logical Order Each class has its own notebook or folder All assignments are arranged by date or project title. Not-so-neat students simply throw one thing on top of another. Good luck trying to find that assignment! How do we organize?

Being organized • Computers don’t like disorganization. • Just as you use folders and notebooks for different classes, computers use drives, libraries, and files to store information. • Your computer’s hard drive is like your locker – it stores thousands of files. • Some of those files run your computer’s operating system. • Others run applications. • Still others contain data that you or someone else may have created.

What is a file? • Files are storage places for data. • Data can be in any form: numbers, text, images, and even voice and video. • You create files and name them using an application program. • You can tell what kind of a file it is by its icon and its letter extension (after the period). For example, dog.jpg is a picture; myfamily.docx is a Word 2010 document.

Other extensions • .xsl – Excel document • .ppt or .pptx—Powerpoint document • .txt—text file • .pdf—Adobe read only file • .bmp – bitmap (picture) • .png – ping (picture) • .gif –graphics interface (picture)

What is a library? • Another name for folder or directory • Like file folders in a filing cabinet • Folders are used as logical places to put related files. • Let’s create a folder for you now and learn how to organize your files.

What is a drive? • Storage places for data • A hard drive is the primary storage area on your computer. (C:\) It offers large storage capacity and fast retrieval. • Floppy Drives (A:\ and B:\) hold 1.44 mb of information and are removable. • Network Drives are assigned letters from F: to Z: and are treated the same as a hard drive. These are located on the server. • What letters are used for the CD Rom drive, the DVD player and flash drives?

File Hierarchy System • Files are placed in folders. • Folders are placed in Drives or other Folders. • The root directory is your starting place. • A:\ or B:\ - floppy • C:\ - hard drive inside computer • D:\ - DVD player • E:\ - flash drives • F:-Z:\ - Network drives located on the server • (On your computers, the letter J: is mapped as a jump drive instead of a network drive.)

Let’s Look At Our Typical Directory Structure

So, where do we save your files on the network? • To your folder on the server which is the ____ Drive. There you will find a folder created just for you named ____________. • Sometimes you will also save to a To Be Graded folder. You can find this folder on the server also by going to the ___ drive and then ___________ and ___________.

Review • What drive letter is our network drive? • Is White Plains High’s network a LAN or a WAN? • Is Calhoun County School’s network a LAN or a WAN? • What is the largest WAN? • What are two basic protections for a network? • What is the advantage of using a network?

Review • What is each personal computer in a network called? • What is the main computer called that talks to all of the computers on a network? • How can you tell by looking at a list of files what type of file it is?

FILE ORGANIZATION