Networks - Characteristics

Question 1

What does security describe (in terms of networks)?

Answer 1

How protected a network is against external/internal threats.

Question 2

What does the importance of security depend on?

Answer 2

The sensitivity of the data travelling through it.

Question 3

What harm could strict security cause?

Answer 3

Reduced speed and availability.

Possibly even increased maintenance cost.

Question 4

The security of a network can be tested by hiring a professional penetration testing company.

What is the issue with this?

Answer 4

This can be expensive, and finding flaws would mean paying more for upgrading equipment/software.

Question 5

What is a Personal Area Network?

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

Give an example of a personal area network.

Answer 6

Pairing a smartphone with your car using bluetooth.

• Play music from phone
• Hands free calls, texts, emails

Question 7

What is a local area network?

Answer 7

A network connecting a group of computing devices on a single geographical area/site.

Question 8

What is a wide area network?

Answer 8

A network connecting two or more local area networks in different geographical locations.

Question 9

How do companies get WANs?

Why do they choose this way?

Answer 9

They hire it from a major telecom company, as it is expensive and complicated to set up and maintain.

Question 10

What are the two types of relationship in a computer?

Answer 10

Client Server

Peer-to-peer

Question 11

What is a server?

Answer 11

A computer dedicated to providing some kind of service to users across a network.

Question 12

What do client server networks consist of?

Answer 12

Terminals known as clients connected to a server.

Question 13

What do file servers do?

Answer 13

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)

Question 14

What is sometimes used to handle traffic and ensure all requests and files go to the correct location?

Answer 14

A switch

Question 15

How might Wi-Fi workstations connect to client-server?

Answer 15

Wireless Access Point

Question 16

User account details are stored on the server. What is the benefit of this?

Answer 16

Users can log into any workstation using their account and have access to the same files.

Question 17

Aside from file servers, what other servers could be available?

Answer 17

Email servers to deal with internal email system

Printer server to handle networked printers

Question 18

Client Server Pros

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Client Server Cons

Answer 19

OS is expensive
Servers are expensive
Specialist staff required
Server failure can cause massive disruption

Question 20

How is peer to peer different from client-server?

Where are files stored?

Answer 20

P2P has no central server. Instead each user stores files on their own personal computer.

Question 21

How does P2P work?

Answer 21

Each device acts as both a server and client, as it can provide and request resources.

Question 22

Where are P2P networks commonly used?

Answer 22

In piracy, as its almost impossible to trace the origin of files.

Question 23

P2P Pros

Answer 23

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

Question 24

P2P Cons

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

What are P2P and client server suitable for?

Answer 25

P2P –> Home computer network

Client-Server –> Organisations (small to large)