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
What are advantages of higher Bandwidth? (2)
- You can transmit larger data files
* You can support video conferencing
What are advantages of Wireless communications? (2)
- No trailing wires
* You can move about without being tied to a desk
What are the advances in computer hardware? (4)
- Advances in processors
- Advances in main memory capacity
- Advances in Backing Storage
- Advances in Data Transfer Rates
What are the advances in network-related software? (3)
- Advances in Browser software
- Advances in Communications software
- Advances in Network operating systems
What is the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act?
An act that covers breaches of copyright, such as illegal copying of software, music and movies
What is the Computer Misuse Act?
An act that makes it illegal to gain unauthorised access to a computer system (hacking) and the spreading of viruses
What is the Data Protection Act?
It is an act that covers how information may be held and for what purposes
What are the advantages of using a Cabled network (As opposed to wireless)? (2)
- Transmission rates are faster (than wireless)
* The range is fixed
What are the differences between a network and a mainframe? (2)
- Each computer on a network has its own built in processor and memory
- A terminal is reliant on the processor and memory of the mainframe
How does a switch reduce collisions? (1)
A switch reduces collisions in a network by allocating the whole bandwidth to each connected computer
