Networks Flashcards
What is a computer Network?
A collection of computing devices/nodes connected in order to communicate and share resources. Connections between computing devices can be physical using wires or cables or wireless using radio waves or infrared signals.
What is a node (host)?
Any device on a network.
What is bandwidth?
The data transfer rate. The speed in which data is moved from one place to another on a network.
What is a protocol?
A set of rules that defines how data is formatted and processed on a network.
What is a file server?
A computer dedicated to storing and managing files for network users.
What is a web server?
A computer dedicated to responding to requests for web pages.
What is a peer-to-peer model?
A decentralized approach that shares resources and responsibilities among many “peer” computers.
What is a local area network (LAN)?
A networks that connects a relatively small number of machines in a relatively close geographical area.
What is a ring topology?
All nodes are connected in a closed loop on which messages travel in one direction.
What is a star topology?
Centres around one node to which all other are connected and through which all messages and requests are sent.
What is a bus topology?
Nodes are connected to a central cable that runs up and down a network.
What is a wide area network (WAN)?
A network that connects local-area networks over a potentially large geographic distance.
What is a Metropolitan-area network (MAN)?
A network that connects computers in large city structures.
What is a gateway?
Allows entry points between two networks and focuses request and acts like security for a network.
What is the internet?
A wide area network that spans the planet.
What is a wireless network?
A network in which device communicate with other nodes through a wireless access point.
What is bluetooth?
A technology used for wireless communication over short distances.
What is an internet backbone?
A set of high-speed networks that carry internet traffic, provided by third party companies.
What is an internet service provider?
An organization providing access to the internet.
What is a packet?
A unit of data to be sent across a network.
What is a router?
A network device that directs a packet between networks toward its final destination.
What is packet switching?
Messages are divided in fixed-sized, numbered packets; packets are individually routed to their destination then reassembled.