Chapter 6 - Communication & Cloud Flashcards
LAN
Local Area Network. Connects computers that reside in a single geographic location.
Network
A collection of computers that communicate with one another over transmission lines or wirelessly.
WAN
Wide Area Network. Connects computers at different geographic locations.
An internet
A network of networks. Internets connect LANs, WANs, and other internets.
The Internet
The most famous internet.
Intranet
A private internet that is used exclusively within an organization.
Protocol
A set of rules that programs on two communicating devices follow.
SOHO
Small Office or a Home Office.
Switch
A special-purpose computer that receives and transmits wired traffic on the LAN.
LAN device
A small computer that has a switch and a device for wireless communication. Has devices for connecting to WAN and via WAN to the internet. (Wireless router).
NIC
Network Interface Card. A device that connects the computer’s or printer’s circuitry to the network wires.
UTP cable
Unshielded Twisted Pair cable. Standard Ethernet cable. Contains sets of wires that are twisted together to improve signal quality.
Optical Fiber Cable
Used for high bandwidths of data. The signals are light rays reflected inside a glass core.
Access Point
The component of the LAN device that processes wireless traffic and communicates with the wired switch.
Switch vs Access Point
Wired devices communicate through the switch. Wireless devices communicate through the access point. When a wired device communicates to a wireless device, and vice versa, the switch and access point communicate.
IEEE 802.3
The protocol for wired LAN connections. Also called Ethernet. Ethernet transmits speeds of 10, 100, and 1,000 Mbps.
IEEE 802.11
The protocol used for wireless network communications. Several versions exist. The current standard, 802.11n allows speeds up to 600 Mbps.
Bluetooth
A common wireless protocol. It transmits data over short distances, usually replacing cables.
3 Functions of an Internet Service Provider (ISP)
1) Provides a legitimate Internet address.
2) Serves as gateway to the Internet. Passes communications to and from the internet.
3) Pays for the Internet. Pays access fees and other charges.
DSL
Digital Subscriber Line. Operates over phone lines. Downstream up to 40 Mbps (10 Mbps in most areas).
Cable
Uses television cable lines for communications. Up to 50 Mbps downstream, but since data is shared from a distribution center in each neighborhood, performance depends on the number of users.
WAN Wireless Connection
Cellular Data, i.e. 4G. Average performance of 500 Kbps with peaks of 1.7 Mbps.