Network Basics Flashcards
Client
▪ Device end-user accesses the network with
▪ Workstation, laptop, tablet, smartphone, television, server, or other
terminal devices
▪ Can be any device that connects to the network
Server
▪ Provides resources to the rest of the network
▪ Different servers provide different functions, such as an E-mail server,
Web server, File server, Chat server, and Print server
▪ Can be a dedicated server hardware/software or can be a device that is
acting like a server for a particular function
Hub
▪ Older technology to connect networked devices, such as clients and
servers
▪ Can be interconnected to provide more ports, but leads to increased
network errors
▪ Receives information in one port and rebroadcasts it out all the other
ports
Wireless Access Point (WAP)
▪ Device that allows wireless devices to connect into a wired network
▪ Commonly used in home, small business, and even some large enterprise
networks
▪ Acts as a wireless hub
Switch
▪ Connects networked devices such as clients and servers (like a hub)
▪ Switches learn what devices are on which switch ports
▪ Switches only forward traffic received from a port to the destination port
based on the device’s MAC address
▪ Provides more security and efficiently uses available bandwidth
Router
▪ Connect two different networks together
▪ Intelligently forwards traffic to and from a network based on its logical
address
▪ Most modern routers use Internet Protocol (IP) address to determine
routing of traffic
Media
▪ Connect two devices or a device to a port
▪ Made from copper cable, fiber optic cable, or radio frequency waves
(WiFi)
▪ Each type has strengths and limitations, such as its available bandwidth,
capacity, distance that can be covered, and cost to install and maintain
Wide Area Network (WAN) Link
▪ Physically connects networks together
▪ Numerous WAN links are available: leased lines, DSL, Cable, Fiber Optic,
Satellite, Cellular, Microwave, …
▪ Connects internal network to external networks, such as a SOHO network
to Internet
Client/Server Model
Uses dedicated server to provide access to
files, scanners, printers, and other resources
▪ Administration and backup are easier since
resources are located on a few key servers
Benefits of Client/Server
▪ Centralized administration
▪ Easier management
▪ Better scalability
Drawbacks of Client/Server
Higher cost
▪ Requires dedicated resources
▪ Requires network operating system
Peer-to-Peer Model
▪ Peers (PCs) share resources (files/printers)
with each other directly
▪ Administration and backup are more difficult
since resources are located on a many PCs
which adds to the administrative burden
Benefits of Peer-to-Peer
▪ Lower cost
▪ No dedicated resources required
▪ No specialized operating system required
Drawbacks of Peer-to-Peer
▪ Decentralized management
▪ Inefficient for large networks
▪ Poor scalability
Personal Area Network (PAN)
Smallest type of wired or wireless network ▪ Covers the least amount of area (few meters) ▪ Examples: ● Bluetooth cellphone to car ● USB hard drive to laptop ● Firewire video camera to computer
Local Area Network (LAN)
▪ Connects components in a limited distance
▪ Each segment is limited to short distances, such as 100 meters with CAT 5
cabling
▪ Consists of Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) or WiFi networks (IEEE 802.11)
● Internal wired or wireless networks
Campus Area Network (CAN)
▪ Connects building-centric LANs across a university, industrial park, or business park ▪ Covers many square miles and buildings ▪ Examples: ● College campus ● Business Parks ● Military bases
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
▪ Connects scattered locations across a city
▪ Larger than a CAN, but smaller than a WAN
▪ Covers up to a 25-mile radius in larger cities
▪ Examples:
● City departments like the police department
● Community college with campuses spread across a county
Wide Area Network (WAN)
▪ Connects geographically disparate internal networks
▪ Consists of leased lines or Virtual Private Networks tunneled over the
Internet
▪ Covers distances around the country or around the world
▪ Examples:
● The Internet (largest WAN)
● Connecting two private corporate networks from New York to
Seattle
Physical Topology
● How devices are physically connected by media
Logical Topology
How the actual traffic flows in the network
Bus Topology
▪ Uses a cable running through area that required network connectivity
▪ Each device “taps” into the cable using either a T connector or vampire
tap
▪ Old technology, not commonly used anymore
▪ Devices on cable form single collision domain
Ring Topology
Uses a cable running in a circular loop
▪ Each device connects to the ring, but data travels in a singular direction
▪ FDDI (Fiber networks) used two counter-rotating rings for redundancy
▪ On token ring networks, devices wait for a turn to communicate on ring
by passing a token
Star Topology
▪ Most popular physical LAN topology
▪ Devices connect to a single point
▪ Commonly used with Ethernet cabling, but wireless or fiber is also used
▪ If the central device fails, the entire network fails
Hub-and-Spoke Topology
Used for connecting multiple sites
▪ Similar to Star but with WAN links instead of LAN connections
▪ Not redundant, if central office (hub) fails, the whole network can fail
Full-Mesh Topology
Most redundant topology ▪ Every node connects to every other node ▪ Optimal routing is always available ▪ Very expensive to maintain and operate ▪ Number of Connections
Partial-Mesh Topology
▪ Hybrid of the full-mesh and the hub-and-spoke topologies
▪ Provides optimal routes between some sites, while avoiding the expense
of connecting every site
▪ Must consider network traffic patterns to design it effectively
Ad Hoc Mode
▪ Decentralized wireless network
▪ No routers or access points are required
▪ Forwarding decisions for data on the network are made dynamically
▪ Allows creation/joining of networks “on-the-fly”
▪ Creates P2P connections
Wireless Mesh Topology
Interconnection of different types of nodes or devices
▪ Consists of clients, routers, and gateways
▪ Utilizes different radio frequencies to extend and expand access
▪ Reliable and redundant connections
Infrastructure Mode
▪ Most common type of wireless network
▪ Requires centralized management
▪ Uses a wireless access point as a centralized point like a star topology
▪ Supports wireless security controls
802.11
● Operates as infrastructure or ad hoc
Bluetooth
Low energy use variant of Bluetooth which allows for a mesh
network
RFID
Uses electromagnetic fields to read data stored in embedded tags
NFC
Enables two electronic devices to communicate within a 4 cm
range
Infrared (IR)
Operates with line of sight
Z-Wave
● Provides short-range, low-latency data transfer at rates and
power consumption lower than Wi-Fi
● Used primarily for home automation
Ant+
● Collection and transfer of sensor data
● Used with remote control systems (tire pressure, TVs, lights)
