Paper 1: Networks 1 Flashcards
What is a network?
2 or more computers linked together
What is a key advantage of networks?
Allows you to share data, resources and hardware between computers
What is a key disadvantage of networks?
Security - Anyone on the network can access
What is a topology in networking?
The different ways to lay out the network
What is Star Topology?
All devices connected to a central switch
What is an advantage of Star Topology?
If one device or cable fails the network still works
What is a disadvantage of Star Topology?
If the switch breaks, the whole network stops working
What is Mesh Topology?
Each device connects to every other device
What is an advantage of Mesh Topology?
Most robust network - If one device/cable fails then data can be routed through other devices
What is a disadvantage of Mesh Topology?
Each device has to be backed up and secured individually
What is Wireless Topology?
All devices connect to a Wireless Access Point (WAP)
What is an advantage of Wireless Topology?
Easy to add devices
What is a disadvantage of Wireless Topology?
Security - Anyone with range can try to access the network
What is a Network Interface Control (NIC) Card?
Translates data from the computer to the network cable and vice versa
What does a modem do?
Translates digital data into analogue signals and vice versa
What is a Hub?
Sends all messages to all computers on the network
What is a Switch?
Learns the locations of computers on the network for efficient message sending
What is a Router?
Used for connecting computers and networks together
What does a Wireless Access Point do?
Sends out and receives radio waves (WIFI)
What is fibre optic cable?
Glass or plastic cable that sends data using light
What is coaxial cable?
Sends data down a copper cable using electricity
What is Twisted Pair cable?
4 pairs of copper wires twisted together
What is an Ethernet cable?
Another name for a network cable, usually coaxial or twisted pair
What is a MAC address?
Series of Hexadecimal letters and numbers used to identify each computer uniquely
What is an IPv4 address?
4 sets of up to 3 denary digits going from 0 to 255
What is an IPv6 address?
128 bits in total set in blocks of 16 bits written in hexadecimal
What is Bluetooth?
Short range radio waves to connect two devices together
What is Infrared Communication?
Using light to send data between two devices
What is a Local Area Network (LAN)?
A network in a small geographical area
What is a Wide Area Network (WAN)?
A network in a large geographical area
What is the cloud?
Storing/accessing files from a computer using the internet
What is an Intranet?
Private network only available in a small area using a password
What is the Internet?
Free to use network over a large geographical area
What is an Extranet?
Accessing a local, private network from a wide area network
What is WiFi Encryption?
Scrambling wireless messages being sent to prevent interception
What is WiFi frequency?
The number of radio waves sent per second, normally 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz
What are WiFi Channels?
Sub-frequencies that allow multiple devices to connect without interference
True or False: Wireless networks are generally more secure than wired networks.
False
What is a Client-Server network?
A network with one main computer called a server and multiple clients
What is an advantage of Client-Server networks?
Security and backups are centralized
What is a disadvantage of Client-Server networks?
If the server breaks, all information is lost
What is a Peer-to-Peer network?
A network where all computers have equal status and share files directly
What is an advantage of Peer-to-Peer networks?
Easy to maintain and set up
What is a disadvantage of Peer-to-Peer networks?
No centralized management can lead to security flaws
What is a Virtual Network?
Using software to split networks into sections for better security
What is a protocol in networking?
A set of rules governing communication
What does TCP/IP stand for?
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
What is HTTP?
Hypertext Transfer Protocol for sending webpages
What does HTTPS stand for?
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
What is FTP?
File Transfer Protocol for uploading and downloading files
What is POP?
Post Office Protocol for retrieving emails from servers
What does IMAP do?
Allows retrieving emails while leaving a copy on the server
What is SMTP?
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol for sending emails
What is packet switching?
Messages are broken into packets sent individually across a network
What are the six parts of a packet?
- Header
- Sender’s IP address
- Recipient’s IP address
- Packet number
- Total number of packets
- Payload
What is layering in networking?
Breaking up the sending of messages into separate components
What is the application layer in networking?
Encodes/decodes the message using protocols like HTTP and FTP
What does the transport layer do?
Breaks down the message into packets and checks for missing ones
What does the network layer add to packets?
Sender’s and recipient’s IP addresses
What is the data link layer responsible for?
Enables the physical transfer of packets between nodes
What is an advantage of layering?
Allows standards to be developed separately without affecting other layers
