Networking Flashcards
What is a Network?
A group of connected computing devices designed to share hardware and software resources
List 5 examples of hardware resources a network can share.
- Printers
- Storage devices
- Scanners
- Routers
- Disc drivers
What is Data Communication in Networking?
The process of using computing and communication technologies to transfer data regardless of location and device used to send or receive the data.
List 5 services that depend on data communication.
- GPS
- Online collaborative docs
- Social media
- Online gaming
- Mobile phone networks
Define the term ‘Upload’.
An upload is when data is transferred from a client to a server.
Define the term ‘Download’.
An download is when data is transferred from a server to a client
Point-to-Point is when…
Data is sent from one device to another on the network
Broadcast is when…
Data is sent from one device to many other devices on the network
Describe the LAN network.
Local Area Network spans a small area and uses a wired or wireless network to share software and hardware resources.
If there is a wireless capability on the LAN it is referred to as…
Wireless LAN (WLAN)
Describe the MAN network.
Metropolitan Area Network spans a larger area than LAN but smaller than WAN and combines wired and wireless network to share resources.
Two benefits of MAN are…
Extremely efficient and provides fast communication via high-speed carriers like fiber optic cables
Describe the WAN network
Wide Area Network spans an expansive area is made up of many MANs, LANs and WLANs through wired and wireless networks
What is a Mobile network?
A network of computing and communication devices where the last or main link is via a mobile phone network.
What is a common carrier?
A company that offers communication services to the general public.
List 4 benefits of wireless networks.
- Increased Mobility
- Reduced cost of ownership over time
- Installation speed and simplicity
- Wider reach of the network
List 4 benefits of wired compared to wireless
- Less vulnerable to interference as it is shielded
- Faster data transmission speed
- Larger capacity for data transmission
- More secure
Bluetooth is…
A wireless protocol for exchanging data over relatively short distances among devices
Five benefits of Bluetooth are:
- Easy to set up
- Resilient to interface
- Low power usage
- Widely implement cost effective
Five challenges of Bluetooth are:
- Limited range, speed and data capacity
- Doesn’t penetrate walls easily
-Power can be depleted quickly - Data security may be a challenge
- Limited simultaneous user capacity
What is Wi-Fi?
A wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless connections between hardware and software services
What is a Hotspot?
A location where devices can connect to a network
What is an Intranet?
A private computer network where only authorized users/devices within the organisation can access its resources
Where are Intranets used?
Any organization that needs to keep data private
What is an Extranet?
A private computer network where only authorized users/devices within and outside of the organisation can access its resources
Why set up an Extranet?
It allows authorized users access to access the network resources using the Internet and enhances user convenience
What is the Internet?
A globally accessible wide area network providing information and communication facilities
What does an Internet Service Provider (IPS) do?
It provides internet access to customers from the country’s main internet infrastructure
Why is data usually encrypted into the Internet?
For the data to be able to travel safely over the Internet
List the factors that determine the transmission media used:
- The operating physical environment
- Volume of data being transmitted
- The type of data being used
Define the term ‘Transmission Media’
Wired or wireless mechanisms by which computing devices are connected together to transmit data.
The characteristics of a Twisted Pair Cable are:
- 8 copper wires are twisted in pairs
- Enclosed in plastic to reduce interference
- Slowest rate of data transmission
The characteristics of a Coaxial Cable are:
- A single copper core surrounded by a metal shield
- Enclosed in plastic to reduce interference
- Second fastest rate of data transmission
The characteristics of a Fibre Optic Cable are:
- Flexible fibres with glass cores carrying data using light
- High speed and vast capacity
- Used to interconnect national/global internet infrastructure
The characteristics of an Infrared transmission media are:
- Allows wireless transmission of data between devices that are generally in line of sight of each other
- Usually used to send small amounts of data for a short distance
The characteristics of a Microwave Radio Signal are:
- Allows wireless transmission of data between devices/antennae
- Used to send large amounts of data for a long distance
- Further reach than infrared and wifi but not as far as satellites
The characteristics of a Satellite are:
- Facilitates global wireless transmission of data between devices
- Used to send large amounts of data worldwide
List the features of a Network Hub
- A networking device that allows you to connect to multiple PCs on a single network
- It is used to connect segments of a LAN
- Stores various ports
- Works as a common connection point for devices
List the features of a Network Router
- Manages multiple networks and routes network traffic between them
- Has one connection to the Internet and one connection to your private local network
- Contains built-in switches that allow you to connect multiple wired devices
The two main functions of a Network Router are:
(1) support and manage data within the local area network
(2) manage the data entering and leaving the network
List the features of a Network Switch
- It is a computer networking device which connects various devices together on a single computer network
- Used to route information in the form of electronic data
- Referred to as bridging devices because the process of linking network segments is called bridging
List the features of a Modem
The modem receives analog information from your ISP through transmission medias into your home and converts that analog signal into a digital signal
