1.3 Structure of the Internet Flashcards
What is an Internet protocol (IP) address?
-4-byte number used to locate a device on a network
-not always unique.
What is the function of a Media Access Control (MAC) address?
-A unique 6-byte hexadecimal number
-used to locate a network card or device.
What are the key differences between IP and MAC addresses?
IP addresses can change and are not always unique, while MAC addresses are permanent and unique to each network device.
What is hexadecimal, and how does it count?
Hexadecimal is a base-16 number system that counts from 0 to 15 using the digits 0-9 and letters A-F.
Define circuit switching.
Circuit switching is a direct connection between two devices
Define packet switching.
A connection between two devices sent in small amounts of data
What are the contents of each packet? (4)
-IP address of sender and recipient
-MAC address of sender and recipient.
-The total number of packets, and this packet’s number in that sequence.
-A checksum to look for errors.
What is a network Interface card? (2)
-Provides a MAC address for a node
-sends and receives network data
Allows a node to connect to a network.
What is a Switch?(3)
-Connects devices together in a LAN
-receives data/packets
-sends data/packets to the correct network device
What is a Router? (3)
Creates a LAN/ISP that passes data between 2 networks
-Edits packets to add correct IP addresses
What is Ethernet? (3)
A type of wired connection using copper cables,
-also a protocol and a standard.
-(1000Mbps which is higher than the 54Mbps you get otherwise)
What are 3 advantages of ethernet?
-High speed
-Low interference
-Secure
what are 3 Disadvantages of etherent?
-Electrical interference
-limited range
-hard to add new nodes
What is a network topology?
A map of how devices on a network connect to each other and the internet.
what are 2 Advantages of Star topology?
-fast, with few data collisions
-still works if some clients fail
