Sharing Resources
Sharing Resources
A network lets connected computers share resources. One file, printer, storage space, piece of software or internet connection can be used by more than one user or device, usually on different computers. This is one of the main reasons for networking computers: you do not need a separate copy of everything for every machine, which saves money and keeps information consistent.
What can be shared
| Resource | How it is shared and why it helps |
|---|---|
| Files and data | One copy is kept in a shared location, so everyone opens the same up-to-date version instead of swapping copies. |
| Printer | Several computers send their printing to one printer, so you buy and maintain fewer printers. |
| Storage | A shared drive gives every computer extra space to save to, without fitting a large drive in each one. |
| Software | A program can be installed on a shared computer or covered by a network licence, so you do not buy a separate copy for every machine. |
| Internet connection | One connection is shared by all the devices, so you pay for one connection rather than one per computer. |
Sharing in practice
A resource is shared either from a central server or directly between the computers in a peer-to-peer network. Either way, the resource is reached over the network rather than copied onto each machine.
For example, a youth hostel has a reception computer and a housekeeping tablet. Both open the same room-cleaning checklist from a shared folder. When a cleaner marks a room as finished on the tablet, reception can see straight away that the room is ready to let. The checklist is stored once, so both devices always see the same version instead of two copies that could disagree.
Practise this
OCR GCSE Computer Science · Sharing Resources