Computer Systems: Chapter 4 (Networking) Flashcards
What is a Network?
It is two or more computer linked together in such a way that data and messages may be exchanged between them
What is a Local Area Network (LAN)?
A LAN is a network that covers a small geographical area
What is a Wide Area Network (WAN)?
A WAN is a network that covers a large geographical area
What is an Internetwork?
An Internetwork is a collection of two or more LANS
What is a Mainframe?
A large, powerful computer system that can process a huge amount of data at high speed
What is a File server?
A File server provides central disk storage for user’s programs and data on a network
What is a Print server?
A Print server allows all of the client stations to use a printer controlled by it
What is a Web server?
A Web server is a computer that provides World Wide Web services to a network
What is a Node?
A computer on a network
What is a Channel?
It is a link between 2 nodes on a network, or any type of communication channel
What is a Topology?
It is the way in which the nodes on the network are connected together
What happens if there is a Node failure on a Bus Topology? What happens if there is a Channel failure on a Bus topology?
- Node failure - No effect on rest of network
* Channel failure - Network is down
What happens if there is a Node failure on a Star Topology? What happens if there is a Channel failure on a Star topology?
- Node failure - No effect on rest of network, unless central node
- Channel failure - No effect on rest of network
What happens if there is a Node failure on a Ring Topology? What happens if there is a Channel failure on a Ring topology?
- Node failure - No effect on rest of network, node bypassed
* Channel failure - Network is down
What happens if there is a Node failure on a Mesh Topology? What happens if there is a Channel failure on a Mesh topology?
- Node failure - No effect on rest of network
* Channel failure - No effect on rest of network
What is a Repeater?
A Repeater is a device which amplifies a signal on a cable
What is a Hub?
A Hub is a multi-port Repeater
What is a Switch?
A Switch is a ‘Smart Hub’, it divides a network into separate segments, one for each machine
What is an advantage of using a Switch over a Hub?
If you use a Switch then there are no collisions between signals to reduce speed of network, whereas using a Hub increases network traffic
What is a Router?
A Router is a device which links 2 or more networks
How does a Router work?
It looks at the destination address of packets of data passing through it, and decides which route each packet should take
What is Bandwidth?
Bandwidth is a measure of the quantity of data which may be carried by a communications channel at any one time
What are the 3 varieties of 802.11 Wi-Fi standards?
- 802.11a
- 802.11b
- 802.11g
What is Bluetooth?
A WPAN that allows short range wireless communications between devices up to 10m apart
