Paper 2: 3.5 Fundamentals of computer networks Flashcards
What is a computer network?
A network is created when more than one device is connected together. A network can be a small collection of computers connected within a building (eg a school, business or home) or it can be a wide collection of computers connected around the world.
What are the risks and benefits of computer networks?
Benefits: - Communication - Roaming - Sharing information - Sharing resources - Sharing software Risks: - Dependance - Hacking - Hardware - Viruses
What is a Personal Area Network (PAN)
A network connecting a device to another over a tiny area (10 m)
What is a Local Area Network (LAN)
A LAN is a network of computers within the same building, such as a school, home or business. A LAN is not necessarily connected to the internet.
What is a Wide Area Network (WAN)
A WAN is created when two or more LANs are connected (not necessarily through the internet but mostly they are)
How can networks be made
With wires or wirelessly
What are the benefits and risks of wireless networks compared to wired networks.
Advantages
- Cheap set-up costs
- Not tied down to a specific location
- Can connect multiple devices without the need for
extra hardware
- Less disruption to the building due to no wires being
installed
Disadvantages
- Interference can occur
- The connection is not as stable as wired networks and
can ‘drop off’
- It will lose quality through walls or obstructions
more open to hacking
-Slower than wired networks
What is the star topology
In a star network, each device on the network has its own cable that connects to a switch or hub. This is the most popular way of setting up a LAN. You may find a star network in a small network of five or six computers where speed is a priority.
What is the bus topology
In a bus network all the workstations, servers and printers are joined to one cable - ‘the bus’. At each end of the cable a terminator is fitted to stop signals reflecting back down the bus.
