Network Components and Types Flashcards
What items are required to make a network?
Host Device.
Intermediary Device.
Network Media.
What are host devices? Give Examples.
These are the devices people are most familiar with, called host/end devices. They are typically used to network applications such as web browsers or e-mail clients and use the network to provide services to users.
Examples of this would be servers, laptops, desktops, smartphones and any form of device that the user uses to interact with a network.
What are intermediary devices? Give examples.
These are devices that exist between hosts. They allow for communication between these different devices by hosting and controlling the flow of data.
Switches, routers, access points and modems fall under here.
What is network media?
Communication in a network is carried on a medium. This can be copper wire, fiberoptic, radio waves. It is irrelevant, what matters is the data is being carried over a medium.
What do switches do?
Connect multiple devices to the network.
What do routers do?
Forwards traffic between networks.
What do access points do?
Connects to a wireless router, and is used to extend the reach of a wireless network.
What do modems do?
Connects a home or small office to the internet.
What is a PAN?
A personal are network is a small network that connects devices such as mice, keyboards, printers and smartphones within the range of a person.
This network type utilizes Bluetooth technology.
What is a LAN?
A local are network, is a network that connects devices using wire cabling over a small geographic area.
LANs today are typically owned by a single individual, such as a school or corporation.
What is a VLAN?
Virtual LANs allow for an administrator to segment the ports of a single switch to act as if it were multiple switches.
This provides more efficient forwarding of data by isolating traffic to only those ports where it is required.
What is a WLAN?
A wireless LAN, is a form of LAN that utilizes wireless technology over a small geographic area as opposed to a wired one.
This form of network utilizes radio waves to transmit information.
What is a WMN?
A wireless mesh network has multiple access points to extend the WLAN.
Businesses and municipalities use WMNs to quickly add new areas of coverage.
What is a MAN?
A metropolitan area network, is a network that span across a large campus or a city.
It consists of various buildings connected through wireless of fiber optic media.
What is a WAN?
A wide area network connects multiple networks that area in geographically separated locations. Individuals and organizations contract for WAN access from a service provider.
The internet is the most well known WAN.
