Networking: LAN Flashcards
What is a node?
A device on a network that can send and/or receive data
What does frequency determine?
The frequency of the wave will determine the distance the signal will be transmitted.
List advantages and disadvantages of UTP
UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair):
Advantages:
- Cheap and widely available.
- Easy to install and flexible.
Disadvantages:
- Susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI).
- Shorter range compared to other cables.
List advantages and disadvantages of STP (shielded twisted pair)
STP (Shielded Twisted Pair):
Advantages:
- Shielding reduces EMI better than UTP.
- Supports faster speeds over longer distances.
Disadvantages:
- More expensive than UTP.
- Less flexible, making installation harder.
List advantages and disadvantages of Coaxial cabling
Advantages:
- Resistant to EMI (electromagnetic interference)
- Good for high-frequency signals.
Disadvantages:
- Bulkier and harder to install.
- Slower data transmission speeds than modern cables.
List advantages and disadvantages of Ethernet
Advantages:
- Standard for LAN; supports high-speed data transfer.
- Easy to install and widely supported.
Disadvantages:
- Vulnerable to physical damage without protection.
List advantages and disadvantages of Fibre Optic cabling
Advantages:
- Extremely high-speed data transfer.
- Immune to EMI and provides long-distance connectivity.
Disadvantages:
- Expensive to install and repair.
- Requires specialized tools and knowledge for installation.
List some weaknesses of copper cables.
- Eavesdropping
Signals traveling can be intercepted by outsiders. - Attenuation
Losing signal strength over a distance - Crosstalk
Signals from one-line interfering with the signals from another - EMI (electro magnetic interference)
Nearby signals such as machinery can corrupt the signals traveling in the cables
What is topology?
The physical layout of a computer network
Provide characteristics of the Star topology
PROS
- Easy to set up + maintain
- Problems w/ it will not affect devices in the network
- Customisable
- Easy to extend
- Most common topology
CONS
- Large amount of cabling for the switch
- Switch is costle
- If switch fails, everything fails
Provide characteristics of the Bus topology
PROS
- Less cabling than star toplogy – reduces costs
- No switch – reduces costs
- Easy to extend
CONS
- Difficult to troubleshoot
- Fault in main cable can shut down whole network
- Congestion
Provide characteristics of the Ring topology
PROS
- Orderly
- Minimal signal degradation
- Can easily create a larger ring network
CONS
- One malfunctioning workstation can create problems for whole network
- Moves, additions+changes of devices can disrupt the network
- Slower than star topology
Provide characteristics of the Hybrid topology
PROS
- Reliable with error detecting–Easy troubleshooting
- Effective and Adaptable
- Scalable
- Flexible
CONS
- Complex design
- Costly
Provide characteristics of the MESH topology
PROS
- Reduced cable cost
- Robust
- Easy to extend
CONS
- Increased workload for each node
- Complex set up
How many bits does IPv4 use?
How many bits does IPv6 use?
IPv4: 32 binary bits
(eg. 216.27.61.137)
IPv6: 128 binary bits
(eg. 2001:cdba:0000:0000:0000:0000:3257:9652)
What is an IP Address?
- IP is an abbreviation for [Internet Protocol].
- An IP Address refers to a [numeric] label assigned to each device connected to a computer [network].
- The function of an IP address is so that the device can access the [internet].
Which is connectionless and which connection-oriented.
TCP + UDP
TCP – Connection-oriented
UDP – Connectionless
What does a switch do?
A swtich connects nodes in a star topology.
What is NIC?
Network Interface Card
- Acts as the physical interface of connection between the computer and the network cable.
What does a wireless bridge do that a normal wireless access point does not?
A wireless bridge connects network segments.
List the layers of the OSI model and what each one does
- Application Layer – sends data to layer 6
- Presentation Layer – translates data to binary+compresses it.
When msg is sent. it encrypts the data. Recieving device will decrypt the data - Session Layer – determines which data packets belong to which files
- Transport Layer – receives data from layer 5, breaks data into segments. Performs logical addressing
- Network Layer – transmits data segments between networks in the form of packets
- Data link layer – receives packets from layer 3. Performs physical addressing
This layer is embedded as software in the computers NIC. - Physical Layer – converts the binary from the upper layers into signals + transmits them over local media
List the OSI layers again and provide an example for them all
- Physical Layer (cable)
- Data link layer (MAC, switches)
- Network Layer (IP, routers)
- Transport Layer (TCP, UDP, port numbers)
- Session Layer (Syn/Ack)
- Presentation Layer (encryption, ASCII, PNG, MIDI)
- Application Layer (HTTP, FTP)
What does the header of the packet contain?
- Packet length
- Synchronisation
- Packet number
- Protocol
- Destination address
- Source address
What is VLAN?
Virtual Local Area Network
- A subnetwork which can group together collections of devices in a LAN
What is a hotspot?
A hotspot is a location that offers Internet access, generally through use of Wi-Fi.
Wifi VS Ethernet
Wifi
- Slow transfer speed
- Suffers from signal interference (inconsistent)
- Data needs to be encrypted
- Higher latency
- Easy to install+deply
Ethernet
- Faster transfer speed
- Consistent speed
- Doesnt need to be encrypted
- Lower latency
- Cable installation required
What is the function of DNS in a network?
DNS (Domain Name System) translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses.
What is the purpose of DHCP?
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) automatically assigns IP addresses to devices on a network.
What is the difference between broadcast and point-to-point communication?
Broadcast communication sends data to all devices on a network, while point-to-point communication sends data to a specific device.
