Topic 8: Networks Flashcards
What are the four main components that enable network communications?
Hardware equipment
Networking software
Transmission media
Standards and protocols
Hardware equipment is one of the four main components that enable what?
Network Communications.
Networking software is one of the four main components that enable what?
Network communications.
Transmission media is one of the four main components that enable what?
Network communications.
Standards and protocols is one of the four main components that enable what?
Network communications.
What are some examples of end-user devices?
Personal computers, laptops, tablets, phones, wearables etc
PCs are an example of what?
End-user devices.
Laptops are an example of what?
End-user devices.
Tablets are an example of what?
End-user devices.
Phones are an example of what?
End-user devices.
Wearables are an example of what?
End-user devices.
What are some popular brands of networking software? (network operating systems)
Popular examples of network operating systems include Cisco IOS, Cumulus Linux and Dell Networking Operating System.
What are the four main types of network hardware?
Router, switch, hub, Network Interface Card (NIC)
Routers are one of the four main types of what?
Network hardware.
Switches are one of the four main types of what?
Network hardware.
Hubs are one of the four main types of what?
Network hardware.
Network Interface Cards are one of the four main types of what?
Network hardware.
Define a router.
A router directs packets of data to their destination on the network. It also acts as a gateway between different protocols and to shared resources like an Internet connection.
What directs packets of data to their destination on the network?
A router.
Define a switch.
A switch is a sophisticated piece of equipment that segments traffic onto smaller networks. It is design to improve the efficiency of network transmission.
What is a sophisticated piece of equipment that segments traffic onto smaller networks?
A switch.
Define a hub.
A hub simply re-broadcasts traffic on each of its ports. It extends the network, but can cause congestion as it is not a managed device and has no awareness of data layers.
What re-broadcasts traffic on each of its ports?
A hub.
Define a Network Interface Card (NIC).
The NIC converts data from the form in which it is stored into a form that allows it to be transmitted over a network.
What converts data from the form in which it is stored into a form that allows it to be transmitted over a network?
A Network Interface Card.
Define a network.
A network is a group of computers that are able to communicate with each other over a data transfer medium.
What is a group of computers that are able to communicate with each other over a data transfer medium?
A network.
Define networking software.
Networking software is a systems software that enables computers that are connected together to function as a network.
A systems software that enables computers that are connected together to function as a network is known as what?
Networking software.
What is ‘data transfer media’?
Transfer media is the material over which data is transmitted. For example, copper cable, fibre optic cable, or wireless.
What is the material over which data is transmitted?
‘Data transfer media’
Name three examples of standard network protocols.
Examples of standard network protocols include Ethernet, WiFi (also known as 802.11) and LTE (also known as 4G mobile).
Ethernet is an example of what?
Standard network protocols.
WiFi is an example of what?
Standard network protocols.
LTE is an example of what?
Standard network protocols.
Define the Internet.
A global, public network of networks that can accessed almost by anyone, from anywhere using any communications device.
A global, public network of networks that can accessed almost by anyone, from anywhere using any communications device is known as what?
The Internet.
Define an intranet.
An intranet is a private internal network that allows employees to access and share resources. It can be accessed from Web browsers.
What is a private internal network that allows employees to access and share resources?
An intranet.
Define an extranet.
An extranet allows users from external organisations, such as suppliers and trading partners, to access parts of the company intranet securely.
What allows users from external organisations, such as suppliers and trading partners, to access parts of the company intranet securely?
An extranet.
Define a company Local Area Network (LAN).
Most companies have a private Local Area Network. All the hardware, cables and devices are owned or leased by the organisation and located within its building or site.
Name the network type where all the hardware, cables and devices are owned or leased by the organisation and located within its building or site
Local Area Network (LAN)
Define LAN
Local
Area
Network
Define a Wide Area Network (WAN).
A Wide Area Network connects LANs to the cloud. A WAN covers a large geographic area such as a region or country. The service is usually provided by a telecom company that owns the hardware equipment and cables.
Name the network type that covers a large geographic area such as a region or country.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Define WAN.
Wide
Area
Network
Describe three advantages for a household of having a Local Area Network (LAN).
Shared access is available to computer peripherals and the Internet connection
Browsing activity can be monitoring centrally - parents can see that their children are accessing the Internet safely.
Antivirus software can be updated centrally, which is quicker and easier than updating on each individual computer.
New software can be installed on all PCs at once, rather than individually on each computer.
Each family member can choose to allow others to share data on their computer.
Backup of files can be centralised, so there is a single store from which to restore files.
Shared access available to computer peripherals and the Internet connection is an advantage of what?
LAN
Browsing activity being able to be monitored centrally is an advantage of what?
LAN
Antivirus software being able to be updated centrally is an advantage of what?
LAN
New software being able to be installed on all PCs at once is an advantage of what?
LAN
Each family member being able to choose to allow others to share data on their computer is an advantage of what?
LAN
Backups of files being able to be centralised is an advantage of what?
LAN
Describe three disadvantages for a household of having a Local Area Network (LAN).
More access points are vulnerable to hackers
Someone in the family must have technical ability to set it up and maintain it. For example, maintaining a firewall can be difficult.
If Internet connection is lost, no one has access
Someone playing online video games could hog the shared bandwidth
If a virus gets into the system it can damage data & software on all computers
More access points being vulnerable to hackers is a disadvantage of what?
LANs
Someone in the family needing the technical ability to set it up and maintain it is a disadvantage of what?
LANs
If there is no internet connection, no one has access to the internet. This is a disadvantage of what?
LANs
What could result in online video games hogging the shared bandwith?
LANs
If a virus gets into the system it can damage data & software on all computers. This is a disadvantage of what?
LANs.
Describe three advantages for a company of having a Local Area Network (LAN).
Central pool of data/documents e.g. All staff can access a single copy of data & files from a central pool.
Collaborative working e.g. Staff can work jointly on the same document at the same time.
Remote management e.g. fix some hardware software problems remotely, e.g. clear printer queues.
User management/monitoring e.g. Better monitoring (in real-time) of what all staff are using their systems for.
Central auditing of activity e.g. Auditing software keeps a record of who has logged on, when, how long, what programs and data were used and what was amended / being able to centrally audit all transactions simply.
Central backup e.g. Easier to backup data by being able to do it from one central location.
Central software installation e.g. Easier and quicker to install software as it can be done centrally and then shared out to all stations without physically going to each one.
Greater security by having one program (eg anti-virus) protecting all computers.
Having a central pool of data/documents within a company is an advantage of what?
LANs.
Being able to collaboratively work within a company is an advantage of what?
LANs.
Having a remote management within a company is an advantage of what?
LANs.
Having user management/monitoring within a company is an advantage of what?
LANs.
Centrally auditing activity is an advantage of what?
LANs.
Having a central backup within a company is an advantage of what?
LANs.
Having central software installation within a company is an advantage of what?
LANs.
Having greater security by having one program on a company system is an advantage of what?
LANs.
Describe two advantages for a company of using email (vs snail mail).
Advantages of email for a company include:
• Email provides an audit trail of messages that have been sent. Messages are backed-up for future use.
• It is easier to search stored email than to find a filed letter.
• Messages can be sent with file attachments (as long as the files are compressed, or not too large).
• The same message can be sent to multiple people at the same time using an address book of recipients’ addresses.
• Email is environmentally friendly because it saves paper.
• Email advertising is cheaper to send, and can reach a wider audience, than post.
What provides an audit trail of messages that have been sent?
A company email.
Being able to search for a virtual document rather than find a filed one is an advantage of what?
Company email.
Being able to attach files is an advantage of what?
Company email.
Being able to send the same message to multiple people at the same time using an book of recipients’ addresses is an advantage of what?
Company email.
What is environmentally friendly because it saves paper?
Company email.
Advertising being cheaper to send, and reach a wider audience is an advantage of what?
Company email (over post).
Give an example of a company using an email audit trail.
If a company has a dispute with supplier they can review the audit trail of emails sent to prove the supplier has not done what it should have done.
A company having a dispute with supplier then reviewing the audit trail of emails sent to prove the supplier has not done what it should have done is an example of what?
A company using an email audit trail.
Describe two disadvantages for a company of using email (vs snail mail).
- Email can be a distraction for employees if too many people are copied on messages that are not important. • Email is not always secure and the user must consider their privacy obligations. Confidential mail is travelling across a very public network.
- E-mail attachments have proved to be a security ‘Achilles heel’, providing an entry point for destructive viruses.
- Email phishing can enable hackers to enter the company network.
- Junk email can clog a company’s system.
Email being a distraction for employees if too many people are copied on messages that are not important is a disadvantage of what?
Company email.
What is not always secure and the user must consider their privacy obligations?
Company email.
What provides an entry point for destructive viruses?
Company email.
What can enable hackers to enter the company network
Email phishing through company email.
What can can clog a company’s system?
Junk mail.
Give an example of how a company could reduce the distraction of email for employees.
Some companies have a ‘zero email’ policy and encourage staff to use internal Instant Messaging or other social media platforms instead. Employees can then choose to join a discussion immediately, or at a more convenient time, or not at all.
Companies encouraging staff to use internal Instant Messaging or other social media platforms is an example of what?
Reducing the distraction of email for employees.
