Basics of computer networking

Question 1

Networking Devices

Answer 1

Several devices enable and facilitate communication between different devices. Common networking devices include:

Hubs: Devices that connect different devices together, transmitting data packets to all devices on the network.

Switches: Similar to hubs, but transmit data packets only to specific devices instead of broadcasting to all.

Routers: Devices that direct data packets between networks and provide the best path for data packets to reach their destination.

Firewalls: Devices or software that monitor and filter incoming and outgoing network traffic, allowing only authorized data to pass through.

Question 2

Network Types

Answer 2

There are various types of networks based on the distance they cover, and the number of devices they connect. A few common network types are:

Personal Area Network (PAN): Connects devices within an individual workspace, typically within a range of 10 meters.

Local Area Network (LAN): Covers a small geographical area, such as a home or office, connecting multiple computers and other devices.

Wide Area Network (WAN): Covers a larger geographical area, interconnecting different LANs, often using leased telecommunication lines or wireless links.

Virtual Private Network (VPN): A secure network established over the public internet, encrypting the data transferred and restricting access to authorized users only.

Question 3

Network Protocols

Answer 3

Protocols are sets of rules that govern the communication between devices within a network. Some of the most common protocols include:

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP): Ensures the reliable transmission of data and establishes connections between devices.

Internet Protocol (IP): Facilitates the transmission of data packets, assigning unique IP addresses to identify devices.

User Datagram Protocol (UDP): A lightweight, fast, but less reliable protocol compared to TCP, often used for streaming and gaming applications.

Question 4

IP Addresses

Answer 4

An IP address is a unique identifier assigned to every device in a network. There are two types of IP addresses:

• IPv4: Uses a 32-bit addressing system, allowing for approximately 4.3 billion unique IP addresses.
• IPv6: Uses a 128-bit addressing system, providing a significantly larger number of available IP addresses.

IP addresses can also be categorized as dynamic or static, depending on whether they change over time or remain constant for a device.

Question 5

OSI Model

Answer 5

The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model is a conceptual framework used to understand and describe how different network protocols interact. It divides networking functions into seven distinct layers:

Physical Layer: Deals with the physical connection between devices, including cabling and hardware.

Data Link Layer: Handles the communication between adjacent devices on the same network.

Network Layer: Identifies the best route for data packets and manages IP addresses.

Transport Layer: Ensures the reliable transmission of data, including error checking and flow control.

Session Layer: Establishes, maintains, and terminates connections between applications on different devices.

Presentation Layer: Translates data into a format that is suitable for transmission between devices.

Application Layer: Represents the user interface with which applications interact.