Chapter 3: Cabling and Topology

Question 1

What is a network topology?

Answer 1

The way that cables and other pieces of hardware connect to one another.

Question 2

Describe a bus topology

Answer 2

• Wired

- Uses a single cable that connects all of the computers in a line

Question 3

Describe a ring topology

Answer 3

• Wired

- Connects all computers on the network with a ring of cable.

Question 4

Describe a star topology.

Answer 4

• Wired

- Uses a central connection box for all the computers on a network

Question 5

Describe a hybrid topology.

Answer 5

• Wired
• Any form of networking technology that combines a physical topology with a signaling topology.
• Star-bus is the most popular.

Question 6

Describe a mesh topology.

Answer 6

• Wireless

- Every computer connects to every other computer via two or more routes.

Question 7

Describe a point-to-multipoint topology.

Answer 7

• Wireless

- A single system acts as a common source through which all members of the network converse

Question 8

Describe a point-to-point topology.

Answer 8

• Wired or Wireless

- Two computers connecting directly

Question 9

Which topology requires termination?

Answer 9

Bus

Question 10

Star-bus is an example of a _______ topology.

Answer 10

hybrid

Question 11

Which of the following is a duplex fiber-optic connection?

A) LC
B) RJ-45
C) ST
D) SC

Answer 11

A) LC

Question 12

What is the most common category of UTP used in new cabling installations?

Answer 12

CAT 5e

Question 13

In which two topologies does the entire network stop working if the cable breaks at any point?

Answer 13

Bus and ring

Question 14

Which wired topology offers fault tolerance?

Answer 14

Star topologies offer fault tolerance, so if one of the cables breaks, all the other computers can still communicate.

Question 15

What does logical topology refer to?

Answer 15

How signals travel electronically.

Question 16

In a partially meshed topology…

Answer 16

At least two machines have redundant connections

Question 17

In a fully meshed topology…

Answer 17

Every computer connects directly to every other computer.

Question 18

What is a network technology?

Answer 18

A practical application of a topology and other critical technologies that provides a method to get data from one computer to another on a network.

Question 19

What is EMI?

Answer 19

Electromagnetic Interference can affect data traveling across wires

Question 20

What are the bayonet-style connectors called?

Answer 20

BNC connectors

Question 21

What is the connector on coaxial cable called?

Answer 21

F-connector

Question 22

What do we use to name coax cables?

Answer 22

Radio Grade (RG) ratings

Question 23

What is the only important measurement of coax cabling?

Answer 23

It’s ohm rating, a relative measure of the resistance on the cable.

Question 24

What is the most common coax cable used today?

Answer 24

RG-6

Question 25

What does a barrel connector do?

Answer 25

Connects two coax cables

Question 26

What is the purpose of the twists in cabling?

Answer 26

They reduce crosstalk. The more twists, the less crosstalk.

Question 27

What is STP?

Answer 27

Shielded Twisted Pair cabling consists of twisted pairs of wires surounded by shielding to protect them from EMI.

Question 28

What are CAT cables rated in?

Answer 28

Megahertz (MHz), indicating the highest frequency the cable can handle.

Question 29

What is bandwidth?

Answer 29

The amount of data that can be transferred per second.

Question 30

What is the max frequency and max bandwidth of | CAT 3?

Answer 30

16 MHz 16 Mbps

Question 31

What is the max frequency and max bandwidth of | CAT 5?

Answer 31

100 MHz 100 Mbps

Question 32

What is the max frequency and max bandwidth of | CAT 5e?

Answer 32

100 MHz 1000 Mbps

Question 33

What is the max frequency and max bandwidth of | CAT 6?

Answer 33

250 MHz 10000 Mbps

Question 34

What is the max frequency and max bandwidth of | CAT 6a?

Answer 34

500 MHz 10000 Mbps

Question 35

What connectors do telephones use for twisted pair cabling?

Answer 35

RJ-11

Question 36

What connectors do networks use for twisted pair cabling?

Answer 36

RJ-45

Question 37

Describe Fiber-optic cable.

Answer 37

Fiber-optic cable transmits light rather than electricity, making it attractive for both high-EMI area and long-distance transmissions.

Question 38

What are the four components of fiber-optic cables?

Answer 38

1) Core: The glass fiber itself 2) Cladding: The part that makes the light reflect down the fiber 3) Buffer: Material to give it strength. 4) Insulating Jacket

Question 39

The designator to define fiber-optic cables is according to their ______ and ________ measurments.

Answer 39

Core, Cladding

Question 40

What is MMF?

Answer 40

Multimode Fiber is a fiber-optic cable that uses LEDs.

Question 41

What is SMF?

Answer 41

Single-mode fiber is a fiber-optic cable that uses lasers.

Question 42

What is modal distortion?

Answer 42

When signals sent at the same time don't arrive at the same time because the paths differ in length slightly. This only happens with Multimode Fiber.

Question 43

Pneumonic for ST connector

Answer 43

"Straight Tip"

Question 44

Pneumonic for SC connector

Answer 44

"Square Connector"

Question 45

Pneumonic for LC connector

Answer 45

"Little Connector"

Question 46

What is an FC connector?

Answer 46

A fiber optic connector you screw in.

Question 47

What is the recommended standard upon which all serial communication takes place?

Answer 47

RS-232

Question 48

What is a DB-9 connector?

Answer 48

- A 9-pin, male serial port - Bandwidth of 56,000 bps - Only works for point-to-point connections

Question 49

What is the Polyvinyl Chloride fire rating?

Answer 49

- Has no significant fire protection | - If burned creates lots of smoke and noxious fumes

Question 50

What is the Plenum fire rating?

Answer 50

- If burned creates much less smoke and fumes than PVC | - Costs about 3-5 times as much as PVC

Question 51

What is the Riser fire rating?

Answer 51

-Designates the proper cabling to use for vertical runs between floors of a building.