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Computer Science GCSE > Hardware > Flashcards

Hardware Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a Network Interface Card (NIC)?

A

An electronic chip built into the motherboard of the device. It is hard-wired with a unique ‘address’, called a MAC address

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2
Q

True or False? No two MAC addresses are the same

A

True

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3
Q

What jobs does the NIC do?

A

Holds the MAC address

Responsible for converting data on the computer into the format used by the network

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4
Q

What is a network protocol?

A

A set of rules for a network

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5
Q

What is a hub?

A

Is a piece of hardware used to connect computers on the same network together

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6
Q

How do devices connect to a hub?

A

Every device gets plugged into the hub via cables

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7
Q

What is a packet?

A

A unit of data made into a single package that travels along a given network path

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8
Q

What happens when a hub receives a data packet?

A

It immediately copies it and broadcasts it to all connected devices

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9
Q

What does every packet contain?

A

A destination address

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10
Q

What is the main disadvantage with hubs?

A

They are inefficient, due to data being sent to every computer, even if only 1 needs it

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11
Q

What is a data collision?

A

When two or more computers want to place a data packet on to the network at exactly the same time

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12
Q

What happens if a data collision happens?

A

The collided data is marked as unusable and the two computers are forced to send their data packets again, at slightly different times

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13
Q

What are the 3 disadvantages with hubs?

A

Inefficient
Data Collisions
Security

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14
Q

Why is security a big problem when using hubs?

A

When a hub receives data it will forward it to every device it connects to, regardless of whether the data was only meant to be sent to just one. This means that there is the potential for any computer connected to the hub to read data that was not intended for it

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15
Q

What is a switch?

A

A switch is similar to a hub in that that allows computers to be linked together and exchange data, but unlike a hub, it does not broadcast every data packet to every device which means there is improved security

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16
Q

How do switches help speed up the running of the network?

A

By reducing the impact of data collisions

17
Q

What does a switch contain?

A

A number of ports and it stores the MAC addresses of all devices that are directly or indirectly connected to each port

18
Q

What happens when a data packet reaches a switch?

A

It’s destination (MAC) address is examined and a direct connection is made between the two machines

19
Q

Which is more expensive, a switch or a hub?

A

Switch

20
Q

Compare how a hub and a switch connects nodes together

A

A hub connects nodes on the network together, but is not intelligent
A switch is an intelligent device which connects nodes on the network together

21
Q

Compare how a hub and a switch transmit data packets

A

In a hub, data packets are transmitted to every node connected to the network
In a switch, data packets are transmitted only to the node for which it was intended to

22
Q

Compare data collisions on a hub and a switch

A

A hub has a higher risk of data collisions, leading to slower network performance
A switch has less of a risk of data collisions leading to improved network performance

23
Q

Compare the security of hubs and switch’s

A

In a hub, there is a security risk, due to data being sent to all nodes
In a switch, has better security due to data only being sent to the correct node

24
Q

Compare the cost of a hub and a switch

A

Hubs are less expensive than a switch

25
Q

What is a router?

A

A device that transfers data packets, by the most efficient route, from one network to another

26
Q

What does a router do when a data packet arrives?

A

Reads the data packet’s destination address
Looks up all the paths it has available to get to that address
Checks on how busy each path is at the moment
Sends the packet along the least congested (fastest) path

27
Q

What 2 other tasks can routers perform?

A

Exchange protocol information across networks

Filter traffic

28
Q

What is an ethernet cable made up of?

A

A set of four ‘twisted pair’ copper wires enclosed in a plastic sleeve with a standard network plug on the end

29
Q

What are fibre optic cables made up of?

A

Many glass fibres held together inside a sheath

30
Q

What is a WAP?

A

Wireless Access Point

31
Q

Why do you need a WAP?

A

To connect Wi-Fi devices to a wired network

32
Q

Where does the cable from a WAP connect to?

A

A hub or switch

33
Q

How is a WAP similar to a hub?

A

It does not read the destination MAC address of a data packet and so the data is broadcast to everyone connected to it

34
Q

Give some examples of transmission media

A

Ethernet cables
Fibre optic cables
Wi-Fi

Computer Science GCSE (38 decks)

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