Wide Area Network changes

The needs of the organization will determine the type of EDMS to be implemented. Systems can be local or, more commonly, distributed throughout the company to maximize the sharing of information and, hence, benefits. This distribution can be site wide or even intersite using local area networks (LANs) and/or wide area networks (WANs). The validation of such networks is covered in Chapter 12 of this book. Many systems are client-server based and may use a Web browser to provide read-only access into the system. The latter is changing with the introduction of Web-based interactive packages. Figure 10.1 provides an example of EDMS architecture for a multiuser distributed system. 

The following systems or system components can be distinguished local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), network operating system (NOS), operating system (OS), application software, database management software, standard application software, hardware, documentation and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Table 13.1 provides examples of systems and components, and the types of changes that may occur with each system or component. 

Computer network and database management systems are supporting systems for CIMS. The computer network consists of a number of computers (called nodes in the network) and network devices, as well as network software. It is used to connect different computers together to enable the communication of data between different computers. The computer network can be classified as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). LAN normally means a restricted area network, such as in a building, factory, or campus. WAN means a much wider area network, across a city or internationally. Network technology is developing rapidly. The Internet concept has changed manu-... 

In the early 1980 s, court decisions and changes in telecommunications laws eliminated the high tariffs charged on telecommunications, which facilitated the development of wide-area networking. 

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