1.3.1-2 Wired and Wireless Networks Flashcards
What does LAN stand for?
Local area network
What is the definition of LAN?
Consists of computers and peripheral devices connected in a small geographic area (school or office building)
How can devices exchange info?
Switches
What does WAN stand for?
Wide area network
What is the definition of WAN?
Connecting one LAN to another creates a wide area network
Covers a large geographical area
Largest WAN is the Internet
What affects the performance of a network?
Number of devices on the same network as bandwidth must be shared between all the users of the same network, lowering everyone’s connection speeds.
Quality of the transmission media, either wired or wireless. Interference from external factors (distance), and other electronic devices such as microwaves.
What is a client-server network?
When a main computer server (that controls access to files and data it sores) is accessed from multiple client computers.
What does a client-server network allow?
Allows security, user access and backups to be carried out by the central server.
What is a peer-to-peer network?
All computers act as both client and server (share files, programs, and network access)
Security permissions shared across the network, and a user can access the contents of any other user’s computer on the same network.
Lack of central control = data can be added and deleted by any user of the network.
Important all peer-to-peer users check their individual network security settings.
Network hardware components?
Wireless access point
Routers
Switches
Network interface controller/cards (NICs)
Transmission media
What is a wireless access point? (WAP)
devices that connect to a network and allow external wireless devices (smartphones, laptops, tablets) to connect to their network.
What is a Router?
connect networks together
What are switches?
Act as a gateway between computers, allowing info to be passed between them and sent directly to a specified destination media access control (MAC) address.
What does NICs stand for?
Network Interface controllers/cards
What are NICs?
Plug directly into motherboard of a desktop computer, allowing the computer to communicate with a network using either Ethernet cable or wireless technology
What does each NIC include?
a MAC address that provides a unique identifier within a LAN
In modern computers where is the NIC usually built into?
Motherboard
What is a Transmission media?
How network devices are connected to each other, using either cables or wireless communication.
What wire do wired networks use?
traditionally use copper wire Ethernet cables to transmit data between devices (100 metres).
What cables are used for larger networks requiring bigger bandwidths over longer distances?
Fibre-optic cables (transmit data as flashes of light)
What does Wi-Fi use to transmit data between compatible routers and computers?
Radio waves
What does DNS stand for?
Domain Name Service
What is a DNS?
an Internet naming service that links the Internet Protocol (IP) address of a computer on a network to a text-based website address that is easier to remember. Made up of multiple Domain Name Servers around the world.
What is hosting?
allowing users to access a specific computer – the host – via network connection
What do you have to do to make sure a user can always access a server that is being hosted?
Keep it constantly running and maintained
What do you need to run a hosting computer at home?
High level of technical knowledge
What is cloud computing?
allows Internet users not only to access remote files but also to run applications such as word processors, graphic software and even games directly from a remote server without the need to install them locally.
What are the advantages of cloud computing?
Software can be run within a browser, removing the need for remote updates.
Not location based, ideal for remote or home working.
Collaboration possible from multiple locations
Remote back-ups can be regularly made.
Cloud services can be accessed via desktop and smart devices.
Previous versions of changed documents can usually be accessed if needed.
What are the disadvantages of cloud computing?
Without internet access, files or programs cannot be accessed.
Increased risk of security concerns, hacking, or questions of data ownership.
Storage capacity can be limited/expensive, depending on the provider.
Downtime – a cloud service may stop working, meaning work cannot be accessed.
Many professional cloud services are subscription-fee based.
What is a web server?
stores and hosts websites, and controls client access to specific (usually HTML format) web pages stored upon it. Requested info then rendered in the client web browser.
What is a file server network?
provides shared access to files hosted on a specific network computer that all network users can access.
