Types of networks

Question 1

What is a network?

Answer 1

An interconnection of computers and other pieces of hardware to facilitate communication and the sharing of resources

Question 2

What are the 3 types of networks?

Answer 2

• PAN
• LAN
• WAN

Question 3

What do the 3 types of network stand for?

Answer 3

• Personal Area Network
• Local Area Network
• Wide Area Network

Question 4

What is a PAN?

Answer 4

Consists of devices in close proximity to a single user, connected via Bluetooth

Question 5

What is a LAN?

Answer 5

A network covering a single building or campus

A single organisation owns all hardware that belongs to a LAN

Question 6

What is a WAN; what is the biggest example?

Answer 6

A network which connect 2 or more LANs that are in different geographical locations

The Internet

Question 7

What are pros of wired networks?

Answer 7

• More secure as a physical connection is needed so hacker would need to be in building
• Less prone to interference

Question 8

What are pros of wireless networks?

Answer 8

• Much easier to add each device
• No requirement to stay in the same place

Question 9

Name type(s) of Wireless networks?

Answer 9

Radio Waves

Question 10

Name type(s) of Wired networks?

Answer 10

• Optical fibre
• Copper cabling

Question 11

What is optical fibre used for?

Answer 11

Very fast connections

Or

If lots of computers are going to share a single connection

Question 12

What is copper cabling like?

Answer 12

Copper cabling is cheaper and slower (than optical fibre)

Quick enough for most activities that a single network would perform

Question 13

What is a network topology?

Answer 13

The pattern in which the hardware on a network is positioned, including connections

Question 14

What are common network topologies?

Answer 14

• Bus
• Star

Question 15

Features of a star network topology?

Answer 15

Every device is connected to a switch at the centre of the network

All communication travels via this switch

Question 16

Pros of star topology?

Answer 16

Very few data collisions, since each device had a dedicated line to the switch

Strong, centralised security

Question 17

Cons of a star topology?

Answer 17

Lots of cabling needed

If the switch has no spare ports, adding another device can be difficult

Question 18

Explain a bus network topology?

Answer 18

A central cable, called the backbone, running betweem 2 terminators connects all devices

Question 19

Pros of a bus topology?

Answer 19

Uses relatively little cable, making it quite inexpensive

Additional devices can be easily added

Question 20

Cons of a bus topology?

Answer 20

Collision can occur, as multiple transmissions will attempt to use the shared backbone

If a large number of devices are connected, network transmission can be slow (due to collisions)