Network Hardware

Question 1

What are NICs?

Answer 1

Receive and send electrical signals on a network, every device connected to a network must have a NIC. Designed to work to network standards E.G. Ethernet
Every network device is assigned a 48bit MAC Address by the manufacturer

Question 2

What are Routers?

Answer 2

Devices used to connect networks, receive data packets from one network and based on the address in the packet forward to correct place on another.

Question 3

What are Switches?

Answer 3

Are simply devices used to connect devices together on a network, they make use of physical hardware MAC to send data on to the required designation node.

Question 4

What are Hubs?

Answer 4

Connects nodes together on a network by broadcasting a signal to all possible destinations at once, only correct receiver will make use of packets.

Question 5

What are Wireless Access Points?

Answer 5

WAP make use of wireless to connect a node to a WiFi network. Avoid need of physical cabling.

Question 6

What are transmission media?

Answer 6

Coaxial copper cables or fibre optic. Used when WiFi is not used. Physical medium to transmit data.