Network Hardware Flashcards
What does an NIC stand for and what is it?
network interface card
a device within a machine that allows it to connect to a network
What is a hub?
a networking device that receives signals from nodes and transmits it to all connected nodes (within the network)
What is a switch
- essentially a smart hub
it is a networking device, which utlises its built in memory to form a look up table of connected nodes. When data is sent , the switch directs it to an appropriate node.
How is a switch better than a hub?
It significantly cuts amount of network traffic and allows more communication
Can a switch be more advanced?
yes, with managed switches
What is a router?
a device which forwards packets of data between networks. it works out how to send packets to nodes within the destination address
What do routers use to transfer packets between themselves?
MAC addresses, otherwise the IP destination in packet header would change
What do routers use to communicate with other devices?
TCP/IP - this makes communication universal
When do we use gateways instead of routers?
when we transmit packets between networks but the protocols between them differ, otherwise they work exactly the same as a router
