Network Connections And Protocol

Question 1

What does LAN stand for?

Answer 1

Local Area Network

A LAN covers a small geographical area and is owned by the organization using it.

Question 2

What is the primary function of a WAN?

Answer 2

Connects LANs

A WAN is a network that connects multiple Local Area Networks and is typically supported by telecommunications companies.

Question 3

What is a NIC?

Answer 3

Network Interface Controller

A NIC is an internal hardware component that enables a device to connect to a network.

Question 4

What role do switches play in a LAN?

Answer 4

Connect devices and transmit data

Switches receive frames of data from devices and transmit these using the MAC address.

Question 5

What is the function of a router?

Answer 5

Directs data packets to their correct destination

Routers manage data flow on the internet by directing packets to their appropriate locations.

Question 6

What is an Ethernet cable?

Answer 6

An ethernet cable connects your device to a network. Ethernet cables are ‘twisted pair’ cables containing four pairs of copper wire.

Question 7

What is a Coaxial cable?

Answer 7

Coaxial cables are made of a single copper wire surrounded by a plastic layer or insulation and a metallic mesh which provides shielding.

Question 8

What is a Fibre Optic cable?

Answer 8

These cables transmit data as light. They are high performance cables and therefore expensive. They can transmit data over very large distances.

Question 9

What is Bluetooth?

Answer 9

Bluetooth provides a direct connection between two devices so that data can be shared. It has a low bandwidth and the range is typically 10 metres.

Question 10

What is Wi-Fi?

Answer 10

Wi-Fi can be used by multiple devices to connect to LANs at the same time. It has high bandwidth compared to Bluetooth. It has a range of between 40-100 metres.

Question 11

What is a WAP?

Answer 11

A wireless access point (WAP) is a hardware device that allows wireless-capable devices to connect to a wired network.

Question 12

What defines a client-server network?

Answer 12

A client-server network is managed by a server. The devices connected to it are clients, and files and software are stored centrally.

Question 13

What is a peer-to-peer (P2P) network?

Answer 13

In P2P networks, all devices are equal, connecting directly to each other without a server. Files are stored on individual devices and can be shared with others.

Question 14

What is star topology?

Answer 14

In star topology, all devices are connected to a central switch or server. The central switch allows many devices to access the server simultaneously.

Question 15

What is mesh topology?

Answer 15

In a mesh topology, there is no central connection point. Instead, each node is connected to at least one other node and usually to more than one.

Question 16

What is a network protocol?

Answer 16

A network protocol is a set of rules for how devices communicate and how data is transmitted across a network.

Question 17

What is a MAC address?

Answer 17

Every device needs a unique identifier so it can be found on a network. MAC addresses are assigned to all network devices by the manufacturer.

Question 18

What is an IP address?

Answer 18

IP addresses are used when sending data between networks. IP addresses are assigned either manually or automatically before the device can access the network.

Question 19

What does TCP do?

Answer 19

TCP sets rules about how devices connect. It splits data into packets and reassembles the packets back to the original data.

Question 20

What is the role of IP in networking?

Answer 20

The IP directs packets to their destination.

Question 21

What is the difference between HTTP and HTTPS?

Answer 21

HTTP is used to access websites and communicate with web servers. HTTPS is more secure as all data is encrypted.

Question 22

What does FTP stand for?

Answer 22

File Transfer Protocol used to access, edit and move files between devices on networks.

Question 23

What is POP3?

Answer 23

Post Office Protocol used to retrieve emails from a server. The server holds the email until you download it; it is then deleted from the server.

Question 24

What is IMAP?

Answer 24

Internet Message Access Protocol used to retrieve emails from a server. The server holds the email until you delete it - you only download a copy.

Question 25

What does SMTP stand for?

Answer 25

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol used to send emails. It is also used to transfer emails between servers.

Question 26

What is a layer in networking?

Answer 26

A layer is a group of protocols which have the same function. Layers are self-contained - protocols don’t need to know what is happening in other layers.

Question 27

What is the internet?

Answer 27

The internet is a network of networks. It is a WAN which is based on the TCP/IP protocol. It connects devices and networks across the world.

Question 28

What is the World Wide Web (WWW)?

Answer 28

The WWW is a collection of websites that are hosted on web servers and accessed using the HTTP protocol.

Question 29

What does DNS stand for and what is its function?

Answer 29

DNS translates a website’s domain name into its IP address. The internet has a network of domain name servers so you don’t need to remember IP addresses.

Question 30

What is meant by ‘the cloud’?

Answer 30

The cloud refers to software and services that run on the Internet, instead of locally on your computer.

Question 31

What is hosting in the context of websites?

Answer 31

In order to let other people see your website, it will be placed on a web server. This is known as hosting. The web server is referred to as a ‘host’.