Networking

Question 1

What is a computer network?

Answer 1

A computer network is a group of two or more computers which are connected together. This can be either a LAN (local area network) or WAN (wide area network); physical (cable) or wireless.

Question 2

What is a server?

Answer 2

A physical device that provides a service to another computer.

Question 3

What is a client?

Answer 3

A computer which can request data from a server.

Question 4

What is a communication medium?

Answer 4

A channel specifically for communication in which data can be sent. Can be cabled or wireless.

Question 5

What is a network adaptor?

Answer 5

A component of a computer’s internal hardware which is used to communicate over a network with another computer. Provides wired and wireless connectivity. Commonly known as a NIC [Network Interface Card].

Question 6

What is a router / wireless access point?

Answer 6

A device that forwards data packets between computer networks. Used to provide connectivity between devices.

Question 7

What are network resources?

Answer 7

Data, information and hardware devices which can be accessed by a group of computers through a network.

Question 8

What is a user?

Answer 8

A person who uses a client.

Question 9

What are protocols?

Answer 9

A set of rules / procedures that control the communication process between electrical devices.

• File Transfer
• Mail

Question 10

What is the purpose of a TCP [Transmission Control Protocol] and where is it located?

Answer 10

Breaks data into small units called packets to be sent across the internet. Puts packets in correct order at receiving end. Transport layer.

Question 11

What is the purpose of an IP?

Answer 11

Provides an addressing scheme that is used to identify individual computers/networks on the internet.
V4: Limited amounts of IP addresses.
V6: Many different available IP addresses to hold those of mobile devices.

Question 12

What is the purpose of a mail protocol?

Answer 12

SMTP [Simple Mail Transfer Protocol]: Used to send mail.

POP3 [Post Office Protocol]: Used to receive mail.

Both SMTP and POP3 use TCP to manage transmission and delivery across the internet.

Question 13

What is the purpose of a HTTP [Hypertext Transfer Protocol] and where is it located?

Answer 13

HTTP [Hypertext Transfer Protocol]: Used to transmit HTML pages. Application layer.

HTTPS [Secure Protocol]: Used for secure connections such as online banking.

Question 14

What is the purpose of a FTP [File Transfer Protocol] and where is it located?

Answer 14

Used to copy files from one computer to another over a network. Application layer.

Question 15

What are the advantages of a computer network?

Answer 15

• Communication.
• Share software.
• File sharing.
• Security.

Question 16

What are the disadvantages of a computer network?

Answer 16

• Costly.
• Expertise.
• Hackable.
• Virus.
• Reliance on central server.

Question 17

What is the purpose of a UDP [User Datagram Protocol] and where is it located?

Answer 17

Breaks data into small units called packets to be sent across the internet. Puts packets in correct order at receiving end. Keeps a steady connection and doesn’t have error checking. Transport layer.

Question 18

What is the application layer?

Answer 18

The place where applications are run. When data is sent, it is encoded.

Question 19

What is the transport layer?

Answer 19

Organises packets to ensure that they’re the correct size and adds information. Sets up the communication between hosts and agrees settings (packet size / language…).

Question 20

What is the network layer?

Answer 20

Attaches the IP address of the destination and current location of the packet, allowing it to travel to the correct location.

Question 21

What is the link layer?

Answer 21

Attaches the MAC address to the data packet as the device’s unique identifier. The NIC and the OS drivers are located in the link layer. Furthermore, it transmits the data through the local network using the network protocols, such as Ethernet.

Question 22

What is the order in which data is passed through the network layers?

Answer 22

Application
Transport
Network
Link

Question 23

What is the purpose of SMTP [Simple Mail Transfer Protocol]?

Answer 23

Used to send mail.

Question 24

What is the purpose of POP3 [Post Office Protocol]?

Answer 24

Used to receive mail.

Question 25

What is a standalone?

Answer 25

A client which is not connected to the internet in any way.

Question 26

What is bandwidth?

Answer 26

Amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time. Measured in bps (bits per second).

Question 27

What is baud rate?

Answer 27

Measurement of how fast a change of stats occurs.

Question 28

What is a data packet?

Answer 28

A unit of data put into a single packet that travels along a network path. Reassembled at the receiving end.

Question 29

What is an API [Application Programming Interface]?

Answer 29

• APIs expose certain functionality.
• Link a page to a third-party provider.
• Websites called “mashups” are created with multiple APIs together.

Question 30

What are the 4 major methods of network security?

Answer 30

Encryption; Authentication; MAC Address Filtering; Firewall.

Question 31

What is encryption?

Answer 31

Where text is rewritten using different symbols and methods in order to make it hard to read. Must be decrypted later.

Question 32

What is authentication?

Answer 32

The use of a username / password system in order to validate who is using the client.

Question 33

What is MAC address filtering?

Answer 33

The use of either whitelisting (allowing) certain MAC addresses to access something. It can also be the use of blacklisting (disallowing) certain MAC addresses from accessing something.

Question 34

What is firewall?

Answer 34

A method of network security where certain ports are closed to stop unwanted data or reduce network traffic.