2.2 – Compare and contrast common networking hardware devices Flashcards
Which of the following is most often used to connect a group of computers in a LAN? (Select all that apply.) ❍ A. Router ❍ B. Switch ❍ C. Bridge ❍ D. WAP
B and D. Computers in a LAN are connected by a central connecting device; the
most common of which are the switch and the wireless access point (WAP). Hubs
can also be used, but those are deprecated devices; they are the predecessor
of the switch. A router is designed to connect two networks together. Now, you
might say, “Wait! My router at home has four ports on the back for computers to
talk to each other.” Well, that is actually the switch portion of a SOHO “router.”
The actual router functionality is in the connection between the two networks—
the switched LAN and the Internet. A bridge is used to connect two LANs or
separate a single LAN into two sections.
What device protects a network from unwanted intrusion? ❍ A. Switch ❍ B. Router ❍ C. Access point ❍ D. Firewall
D. A firewall is a hardware appliance or software application that protects one
or more computers from unwanted intrusion. A switch is a device that connects
multiple computers together on a LAN. A router is used to connect two or more
networks. An access point (or wireless access point) allows Wi-Fi–enabled
computers and devices to communicate on the LAN wirelessly
Which of the following network devices moves frames of data between a source
and destination based on their MAC addresses?
❍ A. Hub
❍ B. Switch
❍ C. Router
❍ D. Modem
B. A switch sends frames of data between computers by identifying the systems
by their MAC addresses. A hub broadcasts data out to all computers. The computer that it is meant for accepts the data; the rest drop the information. Routers
enable connections with individual high-speed interconnection points and route
signals for all the computers on the LAN out to the Internet. A modem is a device
that allows a computer to access the Internet by changing the digital signals of
the computer to analog signals used by a typical land-based phone line.
Which of the following network devices allows a remote device to obtain Ethernet data as well as electrical power? ❍ A. PD ❍ B. PoE injector ❍ C. Repeater ❍ D. Router
B. A Power over Ethernet (PoE) injector sends Ethernet data and power over a
single twisted-pair cable to a remote device. PD stands for “powered device,” the
PoE-compliant remote device that is receiving the power. A repeater extends the
distance of a network connection. While a PoE injector can act as a repeater, not
all repeaters are PoE injectors. A router makes connections from one network to
another or from the LAN to the Internet.
Which of the following devices can be configured when accessed from a browser or SSH or similar configuration tool? ❍ A. Managed switch ❍ B. Unmanaged switch ❍ C. Patch panel ❍ D. Network interface card
A. Managed switches can be configured when accessed from a browser or SSH
or similar configuration tool. For example, you can change the device’s IP address,
configure ports, and monitor the switch and other devices with SNMP. On the
other hand, unmanaged switches don’t have these capabilities; they simply connect devices and computers together for transmission of data over the Ethernet
network. A patch panel is a physical hardware device that acts as a termination
point for all of the network cables in a building. A network interface card (NIC)
allows for connectivity to a computer network. It is a physical device that can be
added to a computer or networking device that has an open and compatible slot.
