Lesson 7: Intro To Network Components

Question 1

What does ISO stand for and what does it do?

Answer 1

International organization of standards. Is a international standards organization headquartered in Switzerland. Standards also developed with the international Electrotechnical Commision ( IEC) and designated as ISO/ IEC . ISO based on Greek word isos meaning equal.

Question 2

What does IET F stand for and what does it do?

Answer 2

Internet Engineering Task Force. Is a standards organization that develops and promotes Internet standards. It’s focus is on the TCP/IP protocol Suite used on the Internet.

Question 3

What does RFC stand for and what does it do?

Answer 3

Request for Comment. When the IETF develops standards it first publishes them as an RFC with a number. E.g RFC 1918 defines what IP address should be reserved for private networks. An RFC is never modified after it is published. If change is needed a new RFC is published with a new number.

Question 4

What is a Dial-up?

Answer 4

Phones and phone lines connected through a PSTN (Public Switch Telephone Network).

Question 5

What does PSTN stand for?

Answer 5

Public Switch Telephone Network

Question 6

What does ISDN stand for?

Answer 6

Integrated Services Digital Network

Question 7

What is ISDN?

Answer 7

ISDN is a dial-up connection that uses telephone network. Since signals are digital it doesn’t use a modem but instead ISDN lines use terminal adapters in place of modems.

Question 8

What are the 2 primary types of ISDN connections?

Answer 8

Basic Rate Interface (BRI) and Primary Rate Interface (PRI)

Question 9

What does DSL stand for?

Answer 9

Digital subscriber line

Question 10

What is DSL?

Answer 10

Another alternative that uses PSTN. Like ISDN, DSLs send signals over the lines using digital signals instead of analog connections used by traditional dial-up connections.

Question 11

What are the two common types of DSL?

Answer 11

ADSL (Asymmetric) and SDSL (Symmetric)

Question 12

What are the types of phone connections?

Answer 12

Dial-up, ISDN, DSL, Cellular

Question 13

What does IEEE stand for and what is IEEE do?

Answer 13

Institution of Electrical Engineers. IEEE is a standards organization that has defined a wide assortment of standards. For example IEEE 802.3 is a collection of standards for wired networks. IEEE 802.11 is a collection of standards for wireless networks. IEEE commonly pronounced as “I Triple E”.

Question 14

What does WiMax stand for?

Answer 14

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access

Question 15

What is WiMAX?

Answer 15

WiMAX is a wireless standard that is expanding the range of many wireless networks. The goal is to deliver high speed internet access for large geographical areas without physical connectivity.

Question 16

What is a Satellite?

Answer 16

A good alternative for users who don’t have access to cable providers or don’t have cellular access

Question 17

What does authentication mean?

Answer 17

When a user proves who they are with credentials. A common method of Authentication requires use of username and password.

Question 18

What is authorization?

Answer 18

When users are authorized access to resources based on identity. E.g Dan might be granted authorization to files on a server. However just because he can log in and authenticate doesn’t mean he has access to all resources on a network. Authorization is granted with permission.

Question 19

What is a NIC?

Answer 19

NIC is a Network Interface Card that connects a computer to a network. Most common NIC is the RJ-45. The RJ-11 connector found on phone lines is similar to the RJ-45 except that the RJ-11 connector is smaller.

Question 20

What is a Hub?

Answer 20

A hub provides connectivity to several devices. E.g a few computers and a printer. All of the users can print off the same printer and share pictures, files etc and other users can access them through the hub.

Question 21

What are routers?

Answer 21

Routers connect networks together. E.g when you have multiple networks using switches and then connecting these networks with a router.

Question 22

What are switches?

Answer 22

Switches connect computers and network devices just as hubs do. Switches identify what devices are connected to each port. They then send data only to the device needed through the port associated with it.

Question 23

What is the difference between hubs and switches?

Answer 23

The big difference is that switches are more intelligent having the ability to learn. Hubs send data to all ports. Switches send data to specific ports.

Question 24

What does modem stand for?

Answer 24

Modulator demodulator

Question 25

What is a modem?

Answer 25

A device used to add digital data to an analog signal through modulation. And to retrieve digital data to an snoopy signal through demodulation. Users connect to the Internet by connecting telephone lines to a modem through a Internet Service Provider (ISP). Speeds are very slow so it is t common to use s telephone.

Question 26

What is NAS?

Answer 26

Network Attached Storage, is a dedicated computer system used to provide disc storage on a network. It is often packaged as a small device or appliance and is easy to connect and use.

Question 27

What is VoIP?

Answer 27

Voice over Internet Protocol, uses an IP network to make phone calls. It is like a regular telephone line except that it uses the Internet instead of a phone line so it doesn’t use a RJ-11 connector instead it uses a RJ-45 port connected to a switch on a router.

Question 28

Define a MAN network.

Answer 28

Metropolitan Area Network, connects multiple LANs can be a large university campus or large organization with multiple buildings, or it can even encompass an entire city.

Question 29

Define a PAN network.

Answer 29

Personal Area Network, a network organized around a person. It includes mobile devices such as smartphones, ear pieces for smartphones, personal digital assistants. Also it can include handheld computers such as tablets and netbooks.

Question 30

Define a LAN network.

Answer 30

Local Area Network, A group of computers or other devices connected together and can include a few users or thousands of users, but the key is the devices connected to the network are relatively close to each other.

Question 31

Define A VPN.

Answer 31

Provides access to a private network over a public network such as the Internet. Organizations often use such networks to give employees access to internal network resources even when they’re away.

Question 32

Define a WAN.

Answer 32

Wide Area Network, includes two or more LANs in separate geographic locations. Each LAN is local for users in the LAN, but other LANs are located elsewhere.