1.3.2 Networks Flashcards
What is a network?
Two or more computers connected together that transmit data
What is physical topology?
Physical topology is the physical layout of the network
What is a logical topology?
The topology that describes the flow of data through a network
What is bus topology?
Topology in which all terminals are connected to a backbone cable
Name an advantage of the bus topology
- Cheaper to set up
- Doesn’t require any additional
hardware
Give a disadvantage of the bus topology
- If backbone cable fails, entire network gets
disconnected - As traffic increases, performance decreases
- All computers can see data transmission
What is star topology?
A network which uses a central node to direct the flow of data, each terminal is connected to the central node
Name two advantages of the star topology
- Performance is consistent with heavy network usage,
- If one cable fails only that station is affected,
- Transmits data faster, so it gives better performance,
- It’s not difficult to add new stations,
- No data collisions.
Name a disadvantage of the star topology
- Expensive due to switch and cabling
- If the central switch fails the rest of the
network fails
What is a mesh topology?
A topology in which every node is connected to every other, most commonly found with wireless technology
Name two advantages of
the mesh topology
- No cabling cost
- As number of nodes increase, reliability and speed
increases - New nodes automatically get incorporated
- Faster since data doesn’t travel through a central switch
Give a disadvantage of the mesh topology
- Need to purchase devices with
wireless capabilities - Maintaining the network is difficult
What are protocols?
Set of rules defining how two devices communicate with each other
Why are protocols standard
Protocols are standard so devices from different manufacturers don’t have problems communicating
Describe the structure of the internet
The internet is a global network of interconnected networks
What does TCP stand for?
Transmission Control Protocol
What does IP stand for?
Internet Protocol