Networks

Question 1

What does LAN stand for?

Answer 1

Local Area Network

Question 2

What does WAN stand for?

Answer 2

Wide Area Network

Question 3

What is a network?

Answer 3

Devices being connected together enabling the sharing of information and resources.

Question 4

Where might you find a LAN?

Answer 4

In businesses, schools and universities.

Question 5

What does a WAN do?

Answer 5

Connects LANs together that are in different geographical locations

Question 6

What is the world’s largest WAN?

Answer 6

The Internet

Question 7

How are LANs connected?

Answer 7

LANs are wired (e.g. with Ethernet cables) or wireless (using Wi-Fi)

Question 8

How are WANs connected?

Answer 8

Using fibre or copper telephone wires, satellite links or radio links

Question 9

What factors affect the performance of networks?

Answer 9

Bandwidth, the number of users on the network, how the connections are made, hardware other than cables and network topology.

Question 10

What is a Network Interface Controller (NIC)?

Answer 10

An internal piece of hardware that allows a device to connect to a network

Question 11

What does a switch do?

Answer 11

Connects devices on a LAN.

Question 12

What is the function of a router?

Answer 12

To transmit data between networks.

Question 13

What are ethernet cables used for?

Answer 13

Connecting devices in a LAN.

Question 14

What does WAP stand for?

Answer 14

Wireless Access Point

Question 15

What does a WAP do?

Answer 15

Allows devices to connect wirelessly

Question 16

What are the two main frequency bands Wi-Fi uses?

Answer 16

2.4GHz and 5GHz

Question 17

Advantages of 2.4GHz

Answer 17

Greater range, and better at getting through solid objects and walls.

Question 18

Advantages of 5GHz

Answer 18

Faster when communicating at a shorter distance, more non-overlapping channels so less chance of interference from other devices.

Question 19

What manages a client-server network?

Answer 19

A server

Question 20

What is the client-server relationship?

Answer 20

Clients send requests to the server, which the server processes and subsequently responds to.

Question 21

Pros of a client-server network?

Answer 21

Easier to keep track of files, easier to perform back-ups, easier to install and update software, easier to manage network security, reliable servers that are always on.

Question 22

Cons of a client-server network?

Answer 22

Expensive to set up and maintain, dependant on the server, server is at risk of being overloaded if it is being accessed by many clients at once.

Question 23

How do devices connect in a peer-to-peer network?

Answer 23

Directly to each other

Question 24

Pros of a peer-to-peer network?

Answer 24

Easy to maintain, no dependence on a server

Question 25

Cons of a peer-to-peer network?

Answer 25

No centralised management, updates and security need to be individually installed on devices, it's easy to lose track of where data is stored, peer machines are less reliable, risking data loss if one fails, machines are prone to slow down when other devices access them.

Question 26

What is a protocol?

Answer 26

A set of rules for how devices communicate.

Question 27

What are MAC Addresses assigned to?

Answer 27

All network-enabled devices by the manufacturer.

Question 28

What does a MAC Addresses used for?

Answer 28

They are used by devices' hardware to communicate within networks

Question 29

What are IP addresses used for?

Answer 29

They are assigned to devices and are used for communication between networks.

Question 30

What is data send between networks in?

Answer 30

Packets

Question 31

What is used by routers to direct data packets on IP networks?

Answer 31

Packet switching

Question 32

What does TCP/IP dictate?

Answer 32

How data is sent between networks

Question 33

What does the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) do?

Answer 33

Sets rules for how devices in the network, splitting data into packets, reassembling packets back into their original data, checking data is correctly sent and delivered.

Question 34

What is the IP responsible for?

Answer 34

Packet switching.

Question 35

What is a layer?

Answer 35

A group of protocols which have similar functions

Question 36

What are the layers (4-1)?

Answer 36

Application, transport, network, link

Question 37

Advantages of using layers?

Answer 37

Breaks down network communication, helping developers to concentrate on only one area of the network, the layers are self-contained, they force companies to make compatible universal hardware.