1.3 Flashcards
Network Interface Controller (NIC)
Allows devices to connect to a network
Switch
Receives and transmits data between devices on a LAN using MAC addresses
Transmission media
Wires or wireless radio waves that allows data transmission between devices
Wireless access point (WAP)
Allows devices to connect to a network wirelessly
Router
Transmits data between networks by directing data as packets to their destination
Wired networks
Three cables to connect devices on an Ethernet (wired) network
- twisted pair
- coaxial cable
- fibre optic
Twisted pair
Copper wires twisted together in pairs to reduce an internal interference
Coaxial cable
Single copper wire surrounded by plastic insulation and mesh to shield outside interference
Fibre optic
Transmits data as light, can be over long distances with little interference
High speed but expensive
Wireless networks
Radio waves transmit data between devices on wireless networks
- Bluetooth
- WiFi
Bluetooth
Direct connection between two devices to share data
- low bandwidth (10 metres)
WiFi
Can connect multiple devices to a LAN at once
- high bandwidth (40-100 metres)
Wired vs wireless
Wired - tend to be faster and more reliable than wireless
Wireless - tend to be cheaper and more convenient than wired
Client-server networks
Files, passwords, software are all stored centrally on the server
- easy file tracking
- reliable
- back up files and software easily
- expensive
- if the server goes down, clients lose access
- can be overloaded
Peer-to-peer networks
Devices connect directly - no server, files are stored on individual devices and shared with others
- easy to maintain without expertise
- no dependence
- updates and backups are complex
- hard to track files
- data can be lost if failure
Star topology
- all devices connect to a central network or server that controls the network
- network is unaffected if the device fails
- high performance
- easy to add more devices
- expensive
- switch is a single point of failure
Mesh topology
No switch - data sent along fastest route from one device to another
- no single point of failure
- add devices without affecting performance
- expensive
- hard to maintain lots of connections
