Computer Networks Flashcards
What is a computer network?
A connected network of computers (or printers, phones and other devices)
Why do we have computer networks?
To share data (documents, images, videos and so on)
How are devices connected in a computer network?
Wires or waves
Name three types of networks.
LAN (or WLAN) -Local
MAN - Metropolitan
WAN - Wide
WLAN
Wireless Local Area Network
MAN
Metropolitan Area Network - eg between universities or hospitals in a large city
WAN
Wide Area Network - Spans more than 30 miles, made up of multiple MANs. The Internet is the most known WAN.
Parts of a network
Nodes - the connected devices
Communications media - How data is transferred (wires or waves)
What is a server?
A special computer accessible to many users.
What is a webserver?
Webservers are special servers accessible to anyone (with an internet connection), very powerful, a lot of memory.
What is a request?
A message sent to a webserver requesting something (files)
What is a client?
A device used to access the Internet. Recives file or data from server.
What is a host?
The server, sends the file or data to the client.
What component is needed in a computer to access the internet?
NIC - Network Interface Card
What is a protocol?
A set of rules governing communication - format and order.
What three parts are in this URL:
http://www.website.com/file.html
http:// - protocol
www.website.com - server name
/file.html - file
What is network topology?
It describes different ways to lay out a network.