Networks - Characteristics Flashcards
What does security describe (in terms of networks)?
How protected a network is against external/internal threats.
What does the importance of security depend on?
The sensitivity of the data travelling through it.
What harm could strict security cause?
Reduced speed and availability.
Possibly even increased maintenance cost.
The security of a network can be tested by hiring a professional penetration testing company.
What is the issue with this?
This can be expensive, and finding flaws would mean paying more for upgrading equipment/software.
What is a Personal Area Network?
The smallest type of network, consisting of connected devices that are in close proximity to an individual (usually a few metres).
These devices can communicate with one another.
Give an example of a personal area network.
Pairing a smartphone with your car using bluetooth.
- Play music from phone
- Hands free calls, texts, emails
What is a local area network?
A network connecting a group of computing devices on a single geographical area/site.
What is a wide area network?
A network connecting two or more local area networks in different geographical locations.
How do companies get WANs?
Why do they choose this way?
They hire it from a major telecom company, as it is expensive and complicated to set up and maintain.
What are the two types of relationship in a computer?
Client Server
Peer-to-peer
What is a server?
A computer dedicated to providing some kind of service to users across a network.
What do client server networks consist of?
Terminals known as clients connected to a server.
What do file servers do?
Store user files and folders in a central location.
These files are served to any connected device requesting them (provided it has permission to access the files)
What is sometimes used to handle traffic and ensure all requests and files go to the correct location?
A switch
How might Wi-Fi workstations connect to client-server?
Wireless Access Point
User account details are stored on the server. What is the benefit of this?
Users can log into any workstation using their account and have access to the same files.
Aside from file servers, what other servers could be available?
Email servers to deal with internal email system
Printer server to handle networked printers
Client Server Pros
Central location for file storage
Users can use any workstation to access work
Authentication handled centrally
Single software license needed, rather than one for each workstation.
Client Server Cons
OS is expensive
Servers are expensive
Specialist staff required
Server failure can cause massive disruption
How is peer to peer different from client-server?
Where are files stored?
P2P has no central server. Instead each user stores files on their own personal computer.
How does P2P work?
Each device acts as both a server and client, as it can provide and request resources.
Where are P2P networks commonly used?
In piracy, as its almost impossible to trace the origin of files.
P2P Pros
No need for a network operating system (so it’s cheaper)
No expensive server needed as each computer hosts the shared files
No need for specialist staff or technicians
Easy to set up
If one computer fails, only the files stored on that machine becomes unavailable
P2P Cons
Becomes cumbersome if more than two or three computers are involved
Files and folders must be backed up on each machine - i.e no central backup
Each shared folder should be organised in a logical manner so users can find what they need
There is no authentication needed other than logging into an account
Each user must be responsible for virus checking on their machine
Each user must install their own software and keep them patched and up to date
A personal computer may slow down due to other users making heavy access demands on its shared folder
A printer or peripheral will be offline if its linked computer is off.
What are P2P and client server suitable for?
P2P –> Home computer network
Client-Server –> Organisations (small to large)
