Networks (PAPER 1) Flashcards
What does LAN stand for
Local Area Network
How large of an area does a LAN cover
a small geographical area located on a single site
Who typically owns the hardware for a LAN
the organisation that uses it
What are the benefits of using a LAN
- easier to share files
- hardware can be shared
- software can be installed / updated on all computers at once
- communications are cheaper and easier
- user accounts can be stored centrally
What is a WAN
a network that connects LANs
What does WAN stand for
Wide Area Network
Who owns WANs
large telecommunication companies that are loaned out to organisations
How can WANs be connected
fibre or copper telephone lines, satellite links or radio links
What 4 factors affect performance of networks
- bandwidth
- wired / wireless
- choice of hardware
- network topology
What is bandwidth
the amount of data that can be transferred in a given time
which is faster : wired or wireless
wired
What type of cables are the best for a fast network
fibre optic cables are better than copper
What factors does wireless performance depend on
- range of device
- amount of interference from other wireless networks
- physical obstructions
What 3 pieces of hardware are required for a network
- Network Interface Controller
- Switches
- Routers
What does NIC stand for
Network Interface Controller
What is a NIC
an internal piece of hardware that allows a device to connect to a network
What do switches do
- how do they do this
connect devices on a LAN
- receive data (frames) from one device and transmit it to the device on the network with the correct MAC address
What are routers responsible for
transmitting data between networks
What do most home ‘routers’ consist of
router, switch, WAP
What unit is data sent in
packets
What are the two most common Ethernet cables and what type of cable are they
- CAT 5e and CAT 6
- twisted pair cables
what are coaxial cables
cables made of a single copper wire surrounded by a plastic layer for insulation and a metallic mesh which provides shielding from outside interference
how do fibre optic cables work and what are their benefits
transmit data as light
- high performance , travel over large distances without loss in quality, don’t get interference
How do wireless networks transmit data
through radio waves
Why are wireless networks better than wired networks
- cheaper - less cabling
- move around while still being connected
What are the two most common wireless technologies
WiFi and Bluetooth
What are the properties of Bluetooth
- usually direct connection between two devices
- range of typically around 10 metres
- low bandwidth compared to WiFi
- Often used in mobile / wearable devices
What are the properties of WiFi
- can be used to connect multiple devices
- connection range of around 40 - 100 metres
- high bandwidth compared to Bluetooth
- often used for routers, desktops, laptops etc.
What does WAP stand for
Wireless Access Point
What is a WAP
a switch that allows devices to connect wirelessly
What do devices need to connect
a wireless NIC, a USB dongle can also be used
What are the two main types of network model
Client Server and Peer-to-Peer Networks
What is the make-up of a client-server network
managed by a server, the devices connected are clients
Where are files and software stored in a client-server network
centrally on the server
What is the client-server relationship
- client sends request to the server
- server processes the request and responds
What sorts of things are stored on the server
- user profiles
- passwords
- access information
What are the pros of a client - server network (5)
- easy to keep track of files
- easy to perform back-ups
- easier to install and update software
- easier to manage network security
- reliable and servers are always on
What are the cons of a client - server network (4)
- expensive to set up
- IT specialists to maintain network and server
- server dependence
- server can become overloaded
What are the principles of a P2P network
all devices are equal, connecting directly to each other
- files are stored on individual devices
What are the pros of a P2P network
- easy to maintain
- no dependence on server
What are the cons of a P2P network (5)
- no centralised management
- Backups are more complicated
- duplicate files - easy to lose track
- less reliable, data is lost if once fails
- machines are prone to slow down when other devices access them
What are the two most important network topologies
- star topology
- mesh topology
What happens in a star topology
all devices are connected to a central switch or server that controls the network
What does a central switch do in a star topology
allows many devices to access the server simultaneously
What are the pros of a star topology
- rest of network is unaffected if a device / cable disconnects
- easy to add more devices to the network
- better performance - data goes straight to central server
What are the cons of a star topology
expensive - lots of cabling for wired network
- whole network is affected if server goes down