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
Weaver
Schools
Diagram of Networks
Saks
Schools
Career
Tech
Calhoun County
Schools Server
Alex.
Elem.
I
N
T
E
R
N
E
T
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.
How do we organize?
 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!
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.



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
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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?
1. To your folder on the server which is
the ____ Drive. There you will find a
folder created just for you named
____________.
2. 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?