Section 2: Networking Basics Flashcards
What is the purpose of networks?
To make connections between machines
What is a client?
A device used by an end-user to access the network
What is a server?
A device that provides resources to the rest of the network
What is a wireless access point (WAP)?
A device that allows wireless devices to connect into a wired network
What is a hub?
Older technology that connects network devices together
What is a switch?
A device that connects network devices together
Switches learn what devices are on which ports
What is a router?
A device that connects two different networks together
What is a client/server model?
Uses a dedicated server to provide access to files, scanners, printers, and other resources
What are the benefits of a client/server?
- Centralized administration
- Easier management
- Better scalability
What are the drawbacks of a client/server?
- Higher cost
- Requires dedicated resources
- Requires specialized OS
What is a peer-to-peer model?
PCs share resources (files/printers) with each other
What are the benefits of a peer-to-peer?
- Lower cost
- No dedicated resources required
- No specialized OS
What are the drawbacks of a peer-to-peer?
- Decentralized management
- Inefficient for large networks
- Poor scalability
What is a personal area network (PAN)? List an example.
The smallest type of wired or wireless network
Bluetooth cellphone to car
What is a local area network (LAN)? List an example
Connects components within a limited distance
Wi-Fi
What is a campus area network (CAN)? List an example
Connects building-centric LANs across a university, industrial park, or business park
College campus
What is a metropolitan area network (MAN)? List an example
Connects scattered locations across a city
City departments such as a police department
What is a wide area network (WAN)? List an example
Connects geographically disparate internal networks
The Internet
What is a bus topology?
Uses a cable running through an area that requires network connectivity
Devices on cable form a single collision domain
What is a ring topology?
Uses a cable running in a circular loop
Each device connects to ring, but data travels in a singuar direction
What is a star topology?
The most popular physical LAN topology where devices connect to a single port
If the central device fails, the entire network fails
What is a hub-and-spoke topology?
Used for connecting multiple sites
Similar to Star but with WAN links instead of LAN connections
What is a full-mesh topology?
Most redundant topology where every node connects to every other node
What is a partial-mesh topology?
Hybrid of the full-mesh and the hub-and-spoke topologies
Provides routes between some sites while avoiding expense of all sites
What is a wireless mesh topology?
An interconnection of different types of nodes or devices
Consists of clients, routers, and gateways
What is Bluetooth?
Low energy use variant which allows for a mesh network
