3.02 Network: Hardware Flashcards
What does NIC stand for?
Network interface controller
What is an NIC?
an internal piece of hardware that allows a device to connect to a network
This used to be a separate cars, but is now built into the motherboard
Are NICs used for wired or wireless connections?
Both
What is a “switch” on a LAN?
A switch connects devices on a LAN
What do “switches” do?
Switches receive data from one device and transmit this data to the device on the network with the correct MAC address
What are the units for data received by switches?
Frames
What do routers do?
Routers transmit data between networks, and need to be connected to at least two different networks
What are the units for data transmitted by routers?
Packets
What are routers used for in homes and offices?
Used to connect the LAN to the internet
What kind of cable do wired networks use? Add what do they connect?
Ethernet cables
Connect devices on a LAN (e.g. a computer to a router)
What are the most common types of ethernet cables?
CAT 5e
CAT 6
What is the make-up of usual ethernet cables?
They are twisted pair cables: contain four pairs of copper wires that are twisted together to avoid internal interference
What is a coaxial cable?
A single copper wire surrounded by plastic insulation layer, outside of which is a metallic mesh which provides a shield from outside interference
What do fibre optic cables use to transmit data?
light
What are the advantages of using fibreoptic cables?
They are high performance: they don’t suffer interference and can transmit over very large distances without loss of signal quality
