01 Networks Flashcards
What are the factors that influence the choice of a network for a company?
• Budget - Cost of hardware, software, and cabling.
• The size of the company - geographic coverage and number of users
• How the network will be used - for instance, video vs email.
• The performance that is required - such as the bandwidth and reliability.
Budget affects what for a company?
The choice of a network.
The size of a company affects what choice?
The choice of a network.
Video vs email is an example of what factor that affects what choice for a company?
The choice of a network.
Performance is a factor that affects what choice for a company?
The choice of a network.
Bullet point a peer-to-peer network.
• Has no server
• All PCs have the same status
• No central control
• Individual users have control over whether they share their files and printers
Define a peer-to-peer network.
A peer-to-peer network has no server. All the PCs on the network have equal status. There is no central control so individual users have control over whether they share their files and printers.
List benefits of a peer-to-peer network.
• Its cheap for there is less equipment and no server needed.
• The software license fees are lower as no network operating system or management apps are needed.
• There are low/no operating costs as no network manager staff are needed.
• There is peer control so each user decides what resources to share.
• There is no single point of failure as there is no control server.
Less equipment and no server needed is a benefit of what?
Peer-to-peer network
Software license fees being lower is a benefit of what?
Peer-to-peer network
Low/no operating costs are a benefit of what?
Peer-to-peer network
Peer control is a benefit of what?
Peer-to-peer network
No single point of failure due to there being no control server is a benefit of what?
Peer-to-peer network.
List drawbacks of a peer-to-peer network.
• Any security weakness puts all PCs at risk.
• Each user has to perform their own backups
• Searching through another user’s file directory is frustrating.
• Unable to give users different levels of access so they have access to everything
• Peer-to-peer networks are suited to small numbers of users because it is too difficult to coordinate settings on lots of different machines.
Bullet point a client server network.
• Can provide shared resources to client computers
• Files and software apps are stored centrally on servers
• The server is hierarchical - so the clients depend on the server/s
• User accounts, security, and app upgrades are all coordinated centrally.
Define a client server network.
On a client server network users can provide shared resources to client computers. Files and software applications are stored centrally on servers. The server is hierarchical so the clients depend on the server/s. Finally, user accounts, security, and application upgrades are all coordinated centrally.
Any security weakness puts all PCs at risk is a drawback of what?
Peer-to-peer network.
Each user has to perform their own backups is a drawback of what?
Peer-to-peer network.
Have to search through another user’s file directory is a drawback of what?
Peer-to-peer network.
Being unable to give users different levels of access so they have access to everything is a drawback of what?
Peer-to-peer network.
What type of network is suited to small numbers of users because it is too difficult to coordinate settings on lots of different machines?
Peer-to-peer network.
Name the benefits of a client server network.
• Suited for large or small networks
• End users don’t need technical knowledge as the network manager handles everything
•Security is managed centrally, so it’s under control of a specialised team.
• Files and applications are easier to find than those of a peer-to-peer network.
• Users have a common interface so they can sign in from any computer on the network.
What is suited for large or small networks?
A client server network.
End users not needing technical knowledge is a benefit of what?
A client server network.
Security being managed centrally is a benefit of what?
A client server network.
Files and applications being easier to find is a benefit of what?
A client server network.
Users having a common interface is a benefit of what?
A client server network.
Name the drawbacks of a client server network.
• More expensive than peer-to-peer as server hardware is needed.
• There are maintenance costs as a network manager personnel is needed.
• More network bandwidth is needed to handle traffic to and from server(s)
• If the server goes down all clients are affected.
• A network operating system is needed for example, Windows Server or Linux. This adds complexity.
Which network needs specific hardware making it the more expensive option?
Client server.
Which network needs a network manager personnel increasing costs?
Client server.
Which network needs more network bandwidth in order to handle traffic to and from server(s)?
Client server.
Which network has a single point of failure?
Client server.
Which network requires a network operating system?
Client server.
Name some network operating systems.
• Windows Server
• Linux
What are the responsibilities of the network admin.
• Ensuring software and security patches are always updated.
• Keeping software licenses up to date (fees should be paid).
• Providing remote control tools for help-desk staff
• Preventing downloads of unauthorised software
• Monitoring individual use of ICT resources, including network bandwidth.
• Monitoring performance of ICT resources - for instance, computers, applications, networks, data centres, printers etc.
• Monitoring CPU performance - for instance, memory use of individual computers.
Ensuring software and security patches are always updated is the responsibility of who?
The network admin.
Keeping software licenses up to date is the responsibility of who?
The network admin.
Providing remote control tools for help-desk staff is the responsibility of who?
The network admin.
Preventing downloads of unauthorised software is the responsibility of who?
The network admin.
Monitoring individual use of ICT resources is the responsibility of who?
The network admin.
Monitoring performance of ICT resources is the responsibility of who?
The network admin.
Monitoring CPU performance is the responsibility of who?
The network admin.
List ways the network admin can protect computer data and ICT resources from attack.
• Can require employees to enter a username and password
• Can install virus checking software
• Can implement firewalls between external and internal networks
• Can encrypt sensitive data as it passes over the network
• Can back up all data regularly
Requiring employees to enter a username and password is a way that a network admin can do what?
Protect computer data and ICT resources from attack.
Installing virus checking software is a way that a network admin can do what?
Protect computer data and ICT resources from attack.
Implementing firewalls between external and internal networks is a way that a network admin can do what?
Protect computer data and ICT resources from attack.
Encrypting sensitive data as it passes over the network is a way that a network admin can do what?
Protect computer data and ICT resources from attack.
Backing up all data regularly is a way that a network admin can do what?
Protect computer data and ICT resources from attack.
List ways that admins can use remote management tools on a computer network.
• Can help users solve PC problems
• Can log users off automatically when a PC is not in use
• Can shut down equipment or PCs that are broken
• Can rebuild and reconfigure software.
• Can monitor who is using the network
• Can detect if unauthorised software is being installed
• Can monitor if users are misusing ICT facilities
Helping users solve problems is a way that an admin can do what?
Use remote management tools on a computer network.
Logging users off automatically when a PC is not in use is a way that an admin can do what?
Use remote management tools on a computer network.
Shutting down equipment or PCs that are broken is a way that an admin can do what?
Use remote management tools on a computer network.
Rebuilding and re-configuring software is a way that an admin can do what?
Use remote management tools on a computer network.
Monitoring who is using the network is a way that an admin can do what?
Use remote management tools on a computer network.
Detecting if unauthorised software is being installed is a way that an admin can do what?
Use remote management tools on a computer network.
Monitoring if users are misusing ICT facilities is a way that an admin can do what?
Use remote management tools on a computer network.
Name characteristics of a ring network topology.
• All network nodes are connected in a circle
• Data sent by one computer passes around the ring until it reaches the destination computer
• Network is not dependent on any single computer
• Each computer has equal access to resources
Network nodes that are connected in a circle are a characteristic of what topology?
Ring network topology
Data sent by one computer passing around the ring until it reaches the destination computer is a characteristic of what topology?
Ring network topology
The network is not dependent on any single computer is a characteristic of what topology?
Ring network topology
Each computer having equal access to resources is a characteristic of what topology?
Ring network topology.
Name characteristics of a bus network topology.
• All nodes are linked via a common shared connection called the ‘backbone’.
• Signals pass in either direction
Nodes being linked via a common shared connected called the ‘backbone’ is a characteristic of what topology?
Bus network topology
Signals passing in either direcction is a characteristic of what topology?
Bus network topology
Name characteristics of a star network topology.
• Computers are connected to the central network node. The node is typically a hub, switch, or router.
• This is the most common topology in the computer LAN (Local Area Network)
Computers being connected to a central network node is a characteristic of what topology?
Star network topology
What is the most common network topology?
Star network topology
List advantages of a ring network topology.
• The network is not dependent on the central node
• All computers have the same access to the network - so no one computer hogs the bandwidth.
The network not being dependent on the central node is an advantage of what topology?
Ring network topology
All computers having the same access to the network so no one computer hogs the bandwidth is an advantage of what topology?
Ring network topology
List advantages of a bus network topology.
• It is cost saving as fewer cable runs are needed.
Which network topology is cost saving since fewer cable runs are needed?
Bus network topology.
List disadvantages of a ring network topology.
• If there is a break in the connection the entire network could fail.
• Faults are difficult to locate
• The network needs to be stopped while new equipment is added.
A break in the connection possibly causing the entire network to fail is a disadvantage of what network topology?
Ring network topology.
In which network topology are faults difficult to locate?
Ring network topology.
Which network topology needs to be stopped while new equipment is added?
Ring network topology.
List disadvantages of a bus network topology.
• The network performance degrades as more nodes are added.
• A failure in the backbone disconnects all upstream computers.
Which network experiences degrading as more nodes are added?
Bus network topology
A failure in what disconnects all upstream computers in what network topology?
A failure in the backbone in a bus network topology.
List advantages of a star network topology.
• The network is load tolerant for more computers can be added without much loss in performance as each has its own path to the hub.
• The network is fault tolerant as a broken cable only affects one edge computer.
• The network is extendable as more computers can be added without causing disruption.
Which network is load tolerant?
Star network topology.
Which network is fault tolerant?
Star network topology.
Which network is extendable?
Star network topology.
List disadvantages of a star network topology.
• More cabling is needed which incurs more cost.
• If the central node fails then it impacts all computers on the network
• More hardware is required - such as hubs and switches.
Which network requires more cabling?
Star network topology
Which network impacts all computers if the central node fails?
Star network topology
Which network requires more hardware?
Star network topology
What is configuration management?
Network configuration management is the process of organising and maintaining all information about ICT resources in a network configuration database in order to maximise network performance.
The database contains records of all changes made to the network over time.
What is the process of organising and maintaining all information about ICT resources in a network configuration database in order to maximise network performance?
Configuration management.
List advantages of using a configuration management database.
• Can roll-back changes to a previous condition if making a change caused the network to fail.
• Database automatically records changes as they’re made
• Network is easier to repair, expand and upgrade because the current state is understood.
• There is less downtime because the up-to-date database information is available so fewer configuration mistakes are made.
What process allows you to roll-back changes to a previous condition?
Configuration management.
What database automatically records changes as they’re made?
Configuration management.
What network is easier to repair, expand and upgrade?
Configuration management.
What database results in less downtime due to fewer configuration mistakes being made?
Configuration management.
