COMPUTER NETWORKING

Question 1

What are computer communications?

Answer 1

the process of sharing data, programs, and information between two or more computers.

Question 2

What are some applications that depend on communication systems?

Answer 2

Email,

electronic commerce, video conferencing

Question 3

What is connectivity?

Answer 3

a concept related to using computer networks to link people and resources

Question 4

What are communication systems

Answer 4

electronic systems that transmit data from one location to another

Question 5

What are the basic elements of a communication system

Answer 5

• Sending and receiving devices. These are often a computer or specialized
communication device. They originate (send) as well as accept (receive) messages in the
form of data, information, and/or
instructions.
• Connection devices. These devices act as an interface between the sending and receiving devices and the communication channel.
They convert outgoing messages into packets that can travel across the communication
channel. They also reverse the process for incoming messages.
• Data transmission specifications. These
are rules and procedures that coordinate the sending and receiving devices by precisely defining how the message will be
sent across the communication channel.
• Communication channel. This is the actual connecting or transmission medium that carries the message. This medium can be a
physical wire or cable (wired) , or it can be wireless.
*see phone for pic

Question 6

Give examples of physical connections in wired communication channels

Answer 6

I. Twisted pair cable- • Used for telephone and network connections Standard telephone lines and Ethernet cables use twisted pair
II. Coaxial Cable- A copper-cored network cable (Thick center wire) 80x more than twisted pair. Used to deliver
television signals as well as to connect
computers in a network
III. Fiber-optic cable-Transmits data as pulses of light through tiny tubes of glass. Replacing twisted-pair cable telephone lines

Question 7

What are the advantages of Fiber-optic cable

Answer 7

-lighter, faster, and more reliable at
transmitting data
-Not affected by electromagnetic or
radio frequency interference.
-However, usually more expensive than copper cabling

Question 8

How do wireless communication channels communicate/

Answer 8

• Use Radio waves, microwaves, infrared signals

Question 9

What are the classifications of wireless connections that use radio signals

Answer 9

– Short-range (such as Bluetooth) can
connect a wireless keyboard or mouse to a PC
– Medium-range (such as Wi-Fi) are used for wireless LANs and to connect portable PC users to the Internet at public hotspots
– Longer-range (WiMAX) can be used to provide Internet access to wide geographic areas

Question 10

What is bluetooth ?

Answer 10

a short-range radio
communication standard that transmits data over short distances.
• Bluetooth is widely used for wireless
headsets, printer connections, and
handheld devices

Question 11

What is Wifi?

Answer 11

(wireless fidelity) uses
high-frequency radio signals to transmit data.
• Most home and business wireless networks use Wi-Fi.

Question 12

What is cellular technology?

Answer 12

Cellular communication
uses multiple antennae (cell towers) to send and receive data within relatively small
geographic regions (cells). • Calls are transferred from cell tower to cell tower as
the individual moves
• Cell phone technology is referred to in generations, 5G,4G…

Question 13

What is satellite communication?

Answer 13

Space-based devices launched into orbit to send and receive
microwave signals from earth
• Satellites can be used to send and receive large volumes of data.
• The major drawback to satellite communication is
that bad weather can
sometimes interrupt the flow of data.

Question 14

What is microwave communication?

Answer 14

Microwave communication
uses high-frequency radio waves. It is sometimes referred
to as line-of-sight
communication because microwaves can only travel in a
straight line.
• they can be transmitted only
over relatively short
distances. Thus, microwave is a good medium for sending
data between buildings in a city or on a large college
campus.

Question 15

What is WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave

Access)

Answer 15

a new standard that
extends the range of Wi-Fi networks using microwave connections.
• WiMax is commonly used by universities and others to extend the capability of existing Wi-Fi networks.

Question 16

What is a computer network?

Answer 16

a communication

system that connects two or more computers so that they can exchange information and share resources.

Question 17

What are the benefits of networking?

Answer 17

• Fewer peripherals needed
• Increased communication capabilities
• Avoid file duplication
• Lower cost of licensing
• Centralized administration
• Conservation of resources

Question 18

What is a node?

Answer 18

any device that is connected to a network. It could be a computer, printer, or data storage device

Question 19

What is a client?

Answer 19

a node that requests and uses resources

available from other nodes.

Question 20

What is a server?

Answer 20

a node that shares resources with other
nodes. Dedicated servers specialize in performing specific tasks e.g. application server, database server, file server, printer server.

Question 21

What is a directory server?

Answer 21

a specialized server that manages

resources, such as user accounts, for an entire network.

Question 22

What is a host?

Answer 22

any computer system connected to a network that provides access to its resources

Question 23

What is a network adapter?

Answer 23

Used to connect a PC
to a network or the
Internet
– Also called network
interface card (NIC)
when in the form of
an expansion card
– Are often built into
portable computer

Question 24

What are the types of network architecture?

Answer 24

Peer-to-peer networks:
• Devices which are connected directly to each other without
any additional networking devices between them. Each
device has equivalent
capabilities and responsibilities.
• In a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, nodes have equal authority and can act as both
clients and servers.
Client/server networks:
• In a client/server model, the client requests information or services from the server. The server
provides the requested
information or service to the client.

Question 25

What are the network types?

Answer 25

1. Local area networks(LANs)
2. WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network)
3. PAN (Personal Area Network)
4. Metropolitan area networks (MAN)
5. Wide Area Networks(WANs)

Question 26

Describe LANs

Answer 26

Networks with nodes that are in close
physical proximity e.g within the same
building. Used by colleges, universities, and other types of
organizations to link personal computers
and to share printers and other resources

Question 27

Describe WLANs

Answer 27

A group of wireless

devices that connect to access points within a specified area

Question 28

Describe PANs

Answer 28

Network that connects devices, such as mice, keyboards, printers, smartphones, and tablets within the range of an individual person. PANs are most often connected with Bluetooth technology.

Question 29

Describe MANs

Answer 29

span distances up to 100 miles.
• These networks are frequently used as links between office
buildings that are located throughout a city.
• not owned by a single organization. Rather, it is owned either by a group of organizations or by a single network service provider that provides network services for a fee.

Question 30

Describe WANs

Answer 30

Wide area networks (WANs) are countrywide and worldwide networks. These networks
provide access to regional service providers.
• They use microwave relays and satellites to
reach users over long distances

Question 31

What is a network gateway?

Answer 31

A device that allows
one LAN to be linked to other LANs or to
larger networks