What are the advantages and disadvantages of online information sharing?

Answer 1

Advantages of File Sharing In a file sharing environment, a large number of users can access a program as though it were on their local machines, when actually the program resides on a single file server. This is a great benefit to small workstations, where disk space is at a premium. A user can have access to a much larger program repertoire than could fit on a private disk. By having a resource reside physically on a single server, then distributed throughout the network, you can greatly simplify administration. First, you reduce the number of copies of various programs that need to be maintained on the network. Second, you reduce the problems involved in performing backups for a number of machines dispersed over a wide geographical area. By keeping files in a single location, this task becomes comparable to backing up a single machine. Centralizing files on a few file servers not only simplifies administration, it helps maintain consistency of shared data files. When changes are made to a shared file, they become available to all users immediately. Disadvantages of File Sharing 1) Security Problems- explicit programming required

2) Integrity Problems- rules needed to be programmed explicitly

3) Concurrent access anomalies- multiple access of same file in case of multiple user system

4) Data Isolation- related data required by different programs of same application may resides in diff isolated files

5) Unanticipated queries- handling sudden queries can be difficult

6) Data redundancy

7) Data inconsistency

8) Duplication of data

9) No standardized control over organization of files

10) No standardized control over structure of files