Topic 2 Network Fundamentals Part 1

Question 1

What are the Components of a Basic Network?

Answer 1

1. A media connection
2. 2 network adapters
3. 2 computers

Question 2

What is a peer-to-peer network? Give examples

Answer 2

Two or more PCs are connected and share resources without going through a separate server computer.
- Sharing printers
- Sharing storage
- Localized administration

Question 3

What is a Client-Server Network?

Answer 3

Client-server networks are computer networks that use a dedicated computer (server) to store data, manage/provide resources and control user access.
Servers provide clients with:
- Shared printers
- Network storage
- Network security features
- Other network resources

Question 4

What is a server?

Answer 4

1. Provides resources to a network such as shared drives and storage
2. Provides services to a network such as printing, faxing, addressing and naming

Question 5

What is a client?

Answer 5

A computer that receives services from a server

Question 6

What is a host?

Answer 6

Anything that runs a host operating system

Question 7

What is a node?

Answer 7

Any addressable location on a network:
- Server
- Client
- Host
- Printer
- Fax
- Storage

Question 8

What is a network topology?

Answer 8

Network topology refers to how various devices are physically connected on the network or logically arranged in relation to each other.

Question 9

What is a physical network topology?

Answer 9

It refers to the actual connections (wires, cables, etc.) of devices in the network.

Question 10

What is a Logical network topology?

Answer 10

It refers to the higher level idea of how the entire network is set up and how data is transmitted through the network.

Question 11

State all the different topologies. 5

Answer 11

1. Bus Topology
2. Ring Topology
3. Star Topology
4. Mesh Topology
5. Hybrid Topology

Question 12

What is a LAN?

Answer 12

A LAN usually spans a small geographical area
- It provides services and applications to people within a common organizational structure, such as a home, building or campus
- Usually administered by a single organization
- Security and access control policies are enforced on the network level

Question 13

What is a WAN?

Answer 13

TSPs or WAN operate large regional networks that span long distances
- It interconnect an organization’s LANs that are located geographically far apart
- WANs use specifically designed network devices to make the interconnections between LANs

Question 14

What are protocols?

Answer 14

1. Pre-determined rules that govern communications
2. A group of inter-related protocols that are necessary to perform a communication function is called a protocol suite

Question 15

What are the roles of protocols?

Answer 15

1. The format of the message, such as how much data to put into each segment
2. The process by which intermediary devices share information about the path to the destination
3. The method to handle error and system messages between intermediary devices
4. The process to setup and terminate communications or data transfers between hosts

Question 16

What is the difference between protocol and reference model? Match, consistency

Answer 16

A protocol model provides a model that closely matches the structure of a particular protocol suite - Eg Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

A reference model provides a common reference for maintaining consistency within all types of network protocols and services
- It is not intended to be an implementation specification or to provide a sufficient level of detail to define precisely the services of the network architecture
- The primary purpose is to aid in clearer understanding of the functions and processes involved
Eg. Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model

Question 17

What is the TCP/IP model?

Answer 17

The TCP/IP model describes the functions that occur at the 4 layers of protocols within the TCP/IP suite

Question 18

What is OSI Model?

Answer 18

The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model is used for network design, operation specifications and troubleshooting

Question 19

What are the 4 communication function that protocols perform in the TCP/IP model?

Answer 19

1. Network Access - Controls hardware device and media that make up the network
2. Internet - Determines best path through the network
3. Transport - Supports communication between diverse devices across diverse networks
4. Application - Represents data to the user plus encoding and dialog control

Question 20

Explain the full communication process in the TCP/IP model.

Answer 20

1. Creation of data at the application layer of the originating source end device
2. Segmentation and encapsulation of data as it passes down the protocol stack in the source end device
3. Generation of the data onto the media at the network access layer of the stack
4. Transportation of the data through the internetwork, which consists of media and any intermediary devices
5. Reception of the data at the network access layer of the destination end device
6. Decapsulation and reassembly of the data as it passes up the stack in the destination device
7. Passing this data to the destination application at the application layer of the destination end device