Network Computer

Network Computer (often abbreviated NC) is a trademark of Oracle Corporation that was used, from approximately 1996 to 2000, to market a range of diskless desktop computer devices. The devices were designed and manufactured by an alliance, which included Sun Microsystems, IBM, and others. The devices were designed with minimum specifications, based on the Network Computer Reference Profile. The brand was also employed as a marketing term to try to popularize this design of computer within enterprise and among consumers.

The term, today, is also used somewhat interchangeably to describe a diskless desktop computer or a thin client.

The NC brand was mainly intended to denote and forecast a range of desktop computers from various suppliers that, by virtue of their diskless design and use of inexpensive components and software, were cheaper and easier to manage than standard fat client desktops. However, due to the commoditization of standard desktop components, and due to the increasing availability and popularity of various software options for using full desktops as diskless nodes, thin clients, and hybrid clients, the Network Computer brand never achieved the popularity hoped for by Oracle and was eventually mothballed.

Based on the scale:

    * Local Area Network (LAN): a computer network that connects a computer with another computer with a limited distance.

    * Metropolitant Area Network (MAN): the same principle with the LAN, only the larger distance, ie 10-50 km.

    * Wide Area Network (WAN): the distance between cities, countries, and continents. This is the same with the Internet.

Based on the function: Basically every computer in a network that functions as a client and server. But there is a network that has a dedicated computer as a server and the other as a client. There is also a computer that has no special function as a server only. Thus, based on its function then there are two types of computer networks:

    * Client-server

          Namely computer network with a dedicated computer as a server. A service / service can be provided by a computer or more. An example is a domain such as www.detik.com lots served by a web server computer. Or it could be a lot of service / services provided by a single computer. Examples are jtk.polban.ac.id server which is a single computer with multi service ie mail servers, web servers, file servers, database servers and others.

    * Peer-to-peer

          Namely computer networks where each host can be also be a client and server simultaneously. For example in file sharing between computers on the Windows Network Neighbourhood Network have five computers (we give the name of A, B, C, D and E) that gives the right of access to the files they have. At one point A to access the file share of B named data_nilai.xls and also gives access to files soal_uas.doc C. When accessing a file from B to A then A is functioning as a client and when A gives access to the files to C then A is functioning as a server. Both functions were performed by A the same time, such networks are called peer to peer.

Based on network topology, computer networks can be divided into:

    * Topology bus

    * Topology stars

    * Ring network

    * Mesh topology

    * Topology tree

    * Linear topology

Based on the criteria, a computer network is divided into four, namely:

   1. Based on the distribution of sources of information / data

          * Centralized Network

                This network consists of the client and the server computer where the client computer that serves as an intermediary to access sources of information / data derived from a single computer server

          * Distributed Network

                Is the mixture so that there are few centralized network server computers that are interconnected with the client to form a specific network system.

   2. Based on the geographic reach is divided into:

          * Network LAN

                is the network that connects two computers or more in coverage such as laboratories, offices, and in a cafe.

          * Network MAN

                Is the network that covers a large city and its local area. Examples of local telephone networks, cellular telephone systems, as well as some ISP's internet relay network.

          * Network WAN

                Is a network with coverage throughout the world. For example the network of PT Telkom, PT. Indosat, as well as networks such as GSM Cellular Satelindo, Telkomsel, and many more.

   3. Based on the roles and relationships of each computer in the process data.

          * Client-Server Networks

                In this network there are one or more server computers and client computers. Computers that will be a server computer or client computer must be altered through software on the network protocol. As an intermediary for the client computer can access data on a server computer and the server computer provides the information required by the client computer.

          * Network Peer-to-peer

                In this network there are no client computer or server computer because all computers can do the delivery and reception of information so that all computers function as clients as well as a server.

   4. Based on data transmission media

          * Wired Network (Wired Network)

                In this network, to connect one computer to another computer network cables required. Function in the network cable to send information in the form of electrical signals between the network computer.

          * Wireless Network (WI-FI)

                Is the network with the medium in the form of electromagnetic waves. On this network is not necessary cables to connect between computers because it uses electromagnetic waves to transmit signals between the computer information network.