Intranets
Many companies are now turning
to intranets as a means of sharing information among company employees. Like
all larger networks, it is based on the client /server model, with a server
machine at its heart. An intranet is a network that runs principally like
the Internet, however, it remains private and is not accessible to the
public.
When users access the network,
they are greeted with a Web browser interface. That is to say, rather than
using the standard Windows desktop, users access files, databases, e-mail,
printers and other resources via the Web browser software, just as though
they were surfing the Web.
In order for your company to
set up an intranet, they will require a server machine as mentioned, which
must be configured as a Web server. That is to say, it requires having Web
server software installed. This is not a problem for companies using
Microsoft WindowsNT, or later, because this software comes complete with Web
server software free, called IIS (Internet Information Services).
The server is configured as a
Web server, and the company website is uploaded. It is also a requirement to
have TCP/IP installed. TCP/IP is a protocol suite that allows computers to
communicate and transfer data. TCP/IP is the protocol used by the Internet
itself. So the components required for an intranet are:
Server machine, configured as a
Web server. Browser software, Internet Explorer TCP/IP protocol suite.
Extranet
Although an intranet is a
private network, and not accessible to the public since it is not attached
directly to the Internet, it is sometimes required to give outside users
access to its services. These users would be an authorised group, perhaps
customers, clients, partners or mobile users. These users would access the
intranet via the normal Internet by a non-public means and would require to
login using a username and password. The login associated with the user,
will determine what range of access will be afforded them.
Security of this type is managed
by a hardware and software combination that surrounds the company's
resources and protects the network, called a firewall. This is a dedicated
machine that intercepts all incoming traffic and filters through only
traffic that is permitted. Its purpose is to prevent unauthorised external
access to the network. |
