Section 2: Network Basics Flashcards
Client Server Model
Dedicated servers, more centralized backup and administration
Client Server Model Benefits
a) Centralized Administration; b) Easier Management; c) Better Scalability
Client Server Model Drawbacks
a) Higher Cost; b) Requires Dedicated Resources (HW, SW, Staff); c) Requires OS.
Peer-to-peer Benefits
a) Lower Cost; b) No Dedicated Resources; c) No Specialized OS
Peer-to-peer Drawbacks
a) Decentralized Management; b) Inefficient for Large Networks; c) Poor Scalability.
PAN / Examples
Personal Area Network - Smallest type of wired or wireless network.
Examples: Bluetooth; USB Hard Drive to Desktop/Laptop; Firewire Video Camera to Computer
LAN
Local Area Network - Connects components over a limited distance.
CAN
Campus Area Network - Connects building-centric LANS
MAN
Metropolitan Area Network - Connects networks across a metropolitan area. (25-mile radius in larger cities; >CAN but <WAN)
WAN
Wide Area Network - Connects Geographically disparate networks around the country/globe.
Definition: Physical Topology
How network devices are physically connected by media.
Definition: Logical Topology
How network traffic flows across the physical topology.
Bus Topology
Alternatively called line topology, bus topology is a network setup where each computer and network device is connected to a single cable or backbone.
Older networking method that used a single cable with “T” or vampire taps to connect devices.
Consists of single collision domain. (No longer commonly used.)
Ring Topology
Circular loop cable of connected devices.
Traffic flows in a single direction.
Devices wait for a turn to communicate.
FDDI (fiber) networks used two counter-rotating rings for redundancy.
Star Topology
Devices connect to a single point. (Ethernet, wireless, fiber, etc.) Single point of network failure.
Hub-and-Spoke Topology
Used to connect multiple networked sites.
Like a Star Topology but uses WAN links between sites. No redundancy. If central office fails the whole network can fail.
Full-Mesh Topology
Every node connects to every other node.
Most redundant.
Provides for most optimal routing.
Very expensive to operate and maintain.
Number of connections X=n(n-1)/2. (e.g. 6 nodes = 15 connections.)
Partial-Mesh Topology
Hybrid of Full-Mesh and Hub-and-Spoke topologies.
Provides optimal routing for some sites.
Must consider traffic patterns when designing.
Infrastructure Mode
Devices on the network all communicate through a single access point, which is generally the wireless router.
Requires centralized management.
Uses wireless access point (WAP).
Supports wireless security controls.
Ad-Hoc Mode
P2P connections.
Decentralized wireless network.
No routers or access points.
Data forwarding decisions made dynamically.
On-the-fly creation/joining of networks.
Wireless Mesh Topology
▪ Interconnection of different types of nodes or devices.
▪ Consists of clients, routers, and gateways.
▪ Different radio frequencies to extend/expand
▪ Reliable and redundant connections
802.11
Operates as infrastructure or ad hoc.
Bluetooth
Low energy use variant of Bluetooth which allows for a mesh network.
A short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs).
RFID
Radio Frequency ID - Uses electromagnetic fields to read data stored in embedded tags.
NFC
Near Field Communication - Four-centimeter range. Enables two devices to communication.
IR
Infrared - Line of sight.
Z-Wave
Short-range, low-latency data transfer at rates and power consumption lower than Wi-Fi.
Used primarily for home automation.
Ant+
Wireless technology that allows monitoring devices to talk (tire pressure, TVs, lights).
