2.1.5- Network hardware Flashcards
What is a router?
Sends and receives packets
How do routers work?
They work by inspecting the destination of the IP address of the data being sent and determining if it belongs to the local network. If the data does not belong to the local network then it will be sent to the connected network.
What is a WAP?
- WAP (wireless access point) is a piece of hardware that connects to a switch and allows WiFi devices to connect to the network.
What is NIC?
Network interface controller provides a connection between the device and the network.
Allows communications between computers connected over a LAN as well as a WAN.
What is a switch?
A switch connects together several devices to form a wired network. Each computer on a network has its own unique address called a MAC address.
The switch learns the MAC addresses connected to it so that it can send the data to the intended destination only.
What are the examples of transmission media?
Fibre-optic cables, Coaxial cable, radio waves and twisted-pair copper cables.
Disadvantages of radio waves.
The strength of the radio wave decreases as it moves further away from its transmitter. This is why a WiFi signal loses its strength the further away it is from a WAP.
Why is it important for WAP to use encryption?
so that unauthorized individuals do not take advantage of the networks.
What do WAPs broadcast and why?
WAPs broadcast an SSID (network name) so that wireless devices know which network to join.
What are access points used for?
It is to increase the range of a wireless network, and increasing the number of users that connect to it.
What is the MAC address? (sender and recipient address)
Each computer on a network has its own unique address called a Media Access Control (MAC) address. The MAC address includes the sender and recipient address.
