Introduction Flashcards
What is a network?
An interconnected configuration of system components designed to communicate and share
What is a computer network physically?
A hardware infrastructure interconnecting end devices
What are end devices? Give examples
The devices that are the sources or destinations of data transmitted across the network
E.g., PC’s, game consoles, smart TV’s, smartphones, Network Interface Cards (NIC) and OS’s
What is infrastructure?
communication links (such as fibre cable, radio, etc.) or packet switches (such as routers, link layer switches, etc.)
What are packet switches?
Intermediary network devices that forward data packets between devices within a network based on the packet’s destination addresses
What is a computer network logically?
A system providing information exchange between applications that are not sharing memory
What is Moore’s Law?
“The number of transistors that fit in unit area of an integrated circuit (or equivalently the total processing power of computers) doubles every two years”
What is Metcalfe’s law?
“The value, usefulness, or utility of a network equal the square of the number of users (or connected devices)”
What is the internet physically?
A public network of computer networks with billions of end-devices, networks
What is the internet logically?
A network facility that provides services to globally distributed applications
What is a service, and what is an application?
Services: Core functions provided by the Internet that support data exchange and communication (e.g., email services, web hosting, DNS).
Applications: Software programs that use these services to provide specific functionalities to users (e.g., Gmail, web browsers, instant messaging apps)
What is standardisation for the internet? What does it ensure?
The establishment of uniform hardware and protocol specifications
Ensures device interoperability across different vendors, which fosters competition and results in lower prices for end users
What would be three reasons for government regulations on the internet?
Fighting digital crimes
Facilitating open market competitions
Practicing censorship
What is the internet of things physically? What are some downsides of it?
An extension of the Internet to billions of resource-poor devices
Consists of constrained devices with limited memory, processing power, energy, and accessibility
What is the internet of things logically? Examples
A network that extends the reach of distributed applications to the physical world (including humans, animals, plants, terrain, etc.)
E.g., vehicular networks, intelligent lighting, smart cities, etc.
What are the three primary elements of network infrastructure?
Network edges
Access Networks
Network Core
What are network edges?
End systems/devices or hosts that run applications at the edge of the network, such as worldwide web or email
E.g., computers, smartphones, smart cars, laptops, etc.
What are the two different network models?
Client/Server Model and Peer-to-Peer Model
What is the Client/Server model?
Clients (typically end-user devices) request services or resources from servers, which are powerful computers or software systems that provide services or resources to clients upon requests
What is the Peer-to-Peer model?
End-user devices that are part of the network act as both clients and servers, providing resources or services to other peers whilst also requesting resources or services from them
What is an embedded system?
A specialised computer system designed to perform specific functions within a larger mechanical or electrical system
What are the five types of embedded systems?
Standalone embedded systems
Network-aware embedded systems
Network-connected embedded systems
Network-central embedded systems
Fully networked embedded systems
What is a standalone embedded system?
Systems that have a standalone functionality and do not communicate with other systems