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NSFC A Level Computer Science > 1.3.3 - Networks > Flashcards

1.3.3 - Networks Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a network?

A

The name given to two or more computers connected together.

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2
Q

What are the two types of network?

A

Local Area Network (LAN)

Wide Area Network (WAN)

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3
Q

What is a LAN?

A

A network spread over a small geographical area.

The hardware is owned by the company.

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4
Q

What is a WAN?

A

A network spread over a large geographical area.

The hardware is rented from a telecommunications company.

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5
Q

What are the two types of network topology?

A

Physical topology

Logical topology

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6
Q

What is the definition of physical topology?

A

The physical layout of the wires and components which form the network.

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7
Q

What is the definition of logical topology?

A

The layout that shows how data flows.

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8
Q

How is a physical bus topology set out?

A

All devices are connected to a backbone cable.

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9
Q

What are the advantages of a bus topology?

A

They are relatively inexpensive to set up.

No additional network hardware is required.

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10
Q

What are the disadvantages of a bus topology?

A

If the backbone cable fails, the network fails.

Data collisions occur which slows the network down.

The data transmitted can be seen by everyone on the network.

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11
Q

How is a physical star topology laid out?

A

All devices are connected to a centralised server/switch.

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12
Q

What are the advantages of a star topology?

A

Performance is consistent as there are no data collisions.

If a cable fails, only one device is disconnected.

Easy to add new stations.

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13
Q

What are the disadvantages of a star topology?

A

If the central server fails, the whole network fails.

Server hardware is expensive as well as cables.

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14
Q

How is a physical mesh topology laid out?

A

In a full mesh, every node is connected to every other node.

In a partial mesh, most nodes are connected to most nodes.

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15
Q

What are the advantages of mesh topology?

A

The performance and reliability increases as more nodes are added.

Nodes do not go through a central server which improves speed.

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16
Q

What are the disadvantages of mesh topology?

A

If using a wired network, the cabling costs are very expensive.

Maintaining the network is difficult.

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17
Q

What is a protocol?

A

A set of rules that define how two devices communicate with each other.

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18
Q

What does HTTP do?

A

Hypertext Transfer Protocol is used to render web pages.

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19
Q

What does TCP/IP do?

A

Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol is a network protocol used for sending information across the internet by packet switching.

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20
Q

What does POP3 do?

A

Post Office Protocol 3 retrieves emails from a server but deletes them immediately. This means inboxes cannot be synced.

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21
Q

What does IMAP do?

A

Internet Message Access Protocol retrieves emails from a server and they are only deleted when the user deletes them. This means inboxes can be synced.

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22
Q

What does FTP do?

A

File Transfer Protocol is responsible for the transmission of files over a network.

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23
Q

What are the four layers in the TCP/IP stack?

A

Application

Transport

Network/Internet

Link

24
Q

What is the application layer responsible for?

A

Choosing the correct protocol for the task.

When receiving, it displays the information based on the protocol.

25
Q

What is the transport layer responsible for?

A

Splitting the information into data packets with a header, payload and trailer. The packets are also given sequence number and the port used.

26
Q

What is the network layer responsible for?

A

Adding the sender’s and recipient’s IP addresses to the header.

27
Q

What is the link-layer responsible for?

A

Adding the sender’s and recipient’s MAC addresses to the header.

The MAC address changes every ‘hop’ as the MAC address of the router that sent the packets changes.

28
Q

What does DNS stand for?

A

Domain Name System.

29
Q

What does TLD stand for in terms of the DNS?

A

Top-Level Domain.

30
Q

What does 2LD stand for in terms of the DNS?

A

2nd Level Domain.

31
Q

What is the function of DNS?

A

To translate domain names into IP addresses.

32
Q

Why is DNS used?

A

IP addresses are much more difficult to remember.

33
Q

What are three sections of a data packet?

A

Header

Payload

Trailer

34
Q

What does the header of a packet contain?

A

The sender’s and recipient’s IP address.

The protocol being used.

The order of the packets.

Time to live.

35
Q

What does the payload of a packet contain?

A

The raw data to be transmitted.

36
Q

What does the trailer of a packet contain?

A

The checksum.

37
Q

What is circuit switching?

A

A method of communication where a direct link is created between two devices. The link is maintained for the entire duration of the conversation.

38
Q

What does circuit switching require the two devices to do?

A

Send and receive data at the same speeds.

39
Q

What are the advantages of circuit switching?

A

Data is sent in order and so it doesn’t have to be reconstructed.

Enables two users to hold a call without a speech delay.

40
Q

What are the disadvantages of circuit switching?

A

Bandwidth is wasted during times where no data is sent.

Ties up sections of the network that others cannot use until the transmission has been completed.

41
Q

What is packet switching?

A

Packet switching is a method of communication in which communicated using packets across a network. Packets are sent along the most efficient route which can vary for each packet.

42
Q

What are the advantages of packet switching?

A

Multiple methods to ensure data arrives intact. For example, checksums.

Multiple routes can be used between devices so if one path breaks another can be used.

Packets can be transferred globally.

43
Q

What are the disadvantages of packet switching?

A

Time is spent constructing and deconstructing packets.

Must wait for all packets to arrive before data can be received.

44
Q

What does a firewall do?

A

A firewall sits between the network and the user’s computer and filters packets going in and out. If malware is detected, the data packet is dropped.

45
Q

What is a proxy server?

A

A proxy server acts on behalf of a user when performing an internet search.

46
Q

What are the advantages of using a proxy server?

A

The IP address of the user is protected so they remain anonymous.

It can make it faster to load as it has cache memory.

47
Q

What does a network interface card do?

A

A NIC is required to connect a device to a network. It assigns a MAC address to each device.

48
Q

What does a switch do?

A

A switch is a device used to direct the flow of data inside a network.

49
Q

What does a wireless access point do?

A

This allows a device to connect to a wireless network.

50
Q

What does a router do?

A

A router is used to connect two or more networks. They allow private, home networks to connect to the internet.

51
Q

What does a gateway do?

A

A gateway is used when protocols are not the same between networks. They remove the header from packets before adding the header again with the new protocol.

52
Q

What is a client-server network?

A

A client-server network consists of terminals known as clients connected to a server. The server holds all of the information and resources. The clients can request to use the server.

53
Q

What are the advantages of client-server?

A

More secure as data is stored in one location.

Central backups are carried out so there is no need for individual backups.

Data and resources can be shared between clients.

54
Q

What are the disadvantages of client-server?

A

Relatively expensive to set up.

If the server fails, functionality for the other computers fail.

Trained staff are required to maintain the server.

55
Q

What is a peer-to-peer network?

A

A network in which devices are connected to each other so that they can share files. Each device acts as both a client and a server as they can both request and share files.

56
Q

What are the advantages of a peer-to-peer network?

A

Cheaper to set up

Allows users to share resources

Easy to maintain

Not dependent on a central server.

57
Q

What are the disadvantages of a peer-to-peer network?

A

Impossible to trace the origin of files.

Backups must be performed separately.

Poorer security.

NSFC A Level Computer Science (26 decks)

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