Computer networks, connections and protocols Flashcards
what are ethernet cables?
Cables used to connect devices together in a LAN
Describe the appearance of Ethernet cables
Ethernet cables are twisted pair cables, containing 4 pairs of twisted copper wires, these are twisted to reduce internal interference
Describe the layout (appearance) of a coaxial cable?
Coaxial cables are single copper wires surrounded by a plastic layer for insulation and as metallic mesh which provides shielding from outside interference
How do fibre optic cables transmit data?
Fibre optic cables use light to carry signals
List 2 advantages of a fibre optic cable
- they don’t suffer from interference
- They can transmit very large distances without loss of signal quality
List 3 benefits of a client-server network
- Software can be installed and updated centrally
- files can be stored centrally(therefore they are easier to keep track of)
- It is easier to manage network security
List 3 drawbacks of a client-server network
- They are expensive to set up
- The clients are dependent on the server
- possibility of a server overloading if too many clients use it at once
List 2 benefits of peer to peer network
- Easy to maintain
- No dependance on server
List 3 drawbacks of a peer to peer network
- Peer to peer networks are less reliable and data can be lost if one fails
- There is no centralized management
- Machines are prone to slowing down when other devices access them
what do standards do?
they allow hardware and software to interact across different manufacturers or producers
what is a protocol?
A set of rules that defines how devices communicate
What are these protocols 1) TCP 2) IP
1) a standard that defines how messages are broken up into packets and reassembled at the location
2) identifies the location of a device and routes packets from source to destination via routers
What are these protocols 1) HTTP and 2) HTTPS?
1) accesses and receives web pages along the internet, in the format HTML
2) similar to HTTP but encrypts the information so that it cannot be understood if it is hacked
What is file transfer protocol?
a network protocol used when transferring computer files between a client and a server
List 2 pros of IMAP over POP
- You can use multiple computers and devices to check your email
- Sent emails stay on the server so you can access them from many devices
What is a network interface card, how does it connect devices together
a circuit board that is installed into a computer so that it can be connected to the network
it offers an interface port for a wired connection, a wireless NIC provides a radio transceiver for connecting wirelessly
What does a WAP use to connect computers to a network
wi-fi
List 5 factors that can affect the performance of a network
number of devices on the network bandwidth network latency the amount of transmission errors the type of network traffic
What is bandwidth?
how much data can be transferred in a given amount of time
what is latency? what is it affected by?
how long it takes for a message to travel from one device to another. it is affected by the number of devices on the network and the type of connection device
What is a hub
a small device that allows computers to connect on a network
What is the main difference between a switch and a hub?
a switch records which computers are connected to which ports. When traffic is received, it is forwarded to its intended recipient only
What are routers used for
sending data signals across the internet
What is hosting?
storing of files and data on a web server
