SLR 21 - networks and the internet Flashcards
What is a topology ?
Refers to the structure of a network
What are the two types of topology?
- physical and logical
What is a physical network topology?
- refers to the actual architecture of a network
- the two types are star and bus
How is a physical star topology connected?
- each client in a network has its own direct connection to the central hub
- the hub receives packets from all clients and is responsible for correctly delivering them to recipients
- a serve can be connected in the same way the clients are connected to the central hub
What are the advantages of a physical star topology?
- packets are sent through a direct connected to recipient (other clients can’t see them)
- its easy to add and remove clients from a network
- collisions don’t occur because each cable communicates for one device
- the rest of the network wont be affected if one cable fails
What are the disadvantages a physical star topology?
- if the central hub fail, all communication over the network is stopped
- expensive to install because of the amount of cables
What is a physical bus topology?
- clients are connected to a single main cable called the backbone
- a terminator is placed at either end of the backbone
- a server could be connected to the backbone like a star another computer
What are the advantages of a physical bus topology?
- there is no central hub, so network failure is less likely
- its less expensive as less cabling is required
What are the disadvantages of a physical bus topology?
- packets sent through the shared backbone (clients can see all the packets not intended for them)
- there is a risk of collisions
- the entire network becomes unusable
What is a logical network topology?
a logical network topology refers to the flow of data packets in a network
What is the process of a logical bus versus a logical star?
- logical bus delivers packets to all clients
- logical star delivers packets only to their recipient
- stars can act like buses and vice versa e.g., a set up is physically a star but sends data to every device in the network
What is a host?
- A device on a network that provides services
- the server and the clients can be hosts
What is a client server network?
- servers are connected in the same way as clients but are more powerful
- clients request services from the server and they respond to the client by providing a service
Why would schools use a client server?
- it allows for central management
- it can improve security
How does a peer to peer network work?
- services are provided by the clients themselves
- every client has an equal status