C1. Networking Fundamentals

Question 1

What is a workstation?

Answer 1

It’s a seriously powerful computer with more than one CPU whose resources are available for other computers if and when needed

Question 2

What is the difference between a workstation and a client?

Answer 2

Client machines typically ask for access to resources from a server or a powerful workstation

Question 3

What is a server?

Answer 3

A cool computer with a superior CPU(s..), hard drive space, and memory

Question 4

What is a host?

Answer 4

It’s a network device with some IP addresses

Question 5

What are the two kinds of network topologies

Answer 5

Physical and logical

Question 6

Define bus topology

Answer 6

It’s a physical network topology where all computers on the network see all the data that’s flowing through a cable; only one computer - to which data is addressed - actually gets it

Question 7

What are the advantages of bus topology?

Answer 7

1) Easy to install

2) Not very expensive

Question 8

Disadvantages of bus topology

Answer 8

1) Hard to troubleshoot, change, or move

2) Little fault tolerance - if central cable fails so does everything else

Question 9

Define Star Topology

Answer 9

It’s a physical (??) WAN topology where all computers are connected to a central point with individual cables or wireless connections

Question 10

What are the benefits of star topology?

Answer 10

1) If one cable fails, it only brings down the machine or network segments related to the point of failure
2) Scalability
3) Easy to troubleshoot

Question 11

What is a device at the center of the star topology network?

Answer 11

It’s a hub/switch

Question 12

What are the drawbacks of the star topology?

Answer 12

1) If the circuit hub fails, everything else does

2) There’s a high total installation cost due to the number of cables

Question 13

Name two extensions of the ring topology

Answer 13

Wireless and point-to-point

Question 14

Define the Ring topology

Answer 14

In the ring topology, each computer is directly connected to other computers within the same network

Question 15

What are the advantages of ring topology?

Answer 15

1) Cable faults are easily located, making troubleshooting easier.
2) Ring networks are moderately easy to install.

Question 16

Disadvantages of ring topology?

Answer 16

1) Expansion to the network can cause network disruption

2) A single break in the cable can disrupt the entire network.

Question 17

Describe the mesh topology

Answer 17

In mesh, there’s a path from every machine to every other machine

Question 18

Advantages of mesh topology

Answer 18

1) Redundant connections make a good backup - for each of n locations/hosts, we’ve got n*(n - 2)/2 connections
2) The network can be expanded without disruption to current users.

Question 19

Disadvantages of mesh topology

Answer 19

1) Pricey cabling solution

2) Complicated implementation

Question 20

Name 5 factors to consider when choosing a network topology

Answer 20

1) cost
2) ease of installation
3) ease of maintenance
4) fault tolerance req.
5) security

Question 21

What is a LAN? How does LAN group resources?

Answer 21

LAN = local area network

1) it’s restricted to a particular geo location s.a. an office building, home office, etc
2) to make admin easier, often it’s best to split up big LAN into logical zones = workgroups
- LAN is a logical grouping of resources

Question 22

Disadvantages of workgroups

Answer 22

1) you must be physically connected to workgroup’s LAN to access its resources
3) You can’t get from one LAN to another and use its server data (you connect LANs with a router)

Question 23

What is a WAN?

Answer 23

WAN = wide area network; internet is one of them!

• WANs typically employ both routers and public links
• WANs usually need a router port or ports
• WANs span large geographic areas - and/or link disparate locales
• WANs utilize public or private data transport media s.a. phone lines

Question 24

Internet is a kind of WAN that ….

Answer 24

connects a bunch of intranets; hosts use hardware addressing to chat with other hosts on LAN and logical addressing to communicate with hosts on other LANs

Question 25

Give me a name of a WAN topology of four letters that you didn’t know was a topology to begin with

Answer 25

MPLS = Multiprotocol Label Switching - is a kind of protocol where data is assigned labels when it reaches an MPLS network, and data is forwarded based those labels - through virtual links, I’d say

Question 26

What are the advantages of MPLS?

Answer 26

1) flexibility in physical layout
2) prioritization of data
3) redundancy in case of link failure
4) one to many connections

Question 27

You need a network that provides centralized authentication for your users. What logical topology would you use?

Answer 27

Client-server

Question 28

You need a topology that is scalable to use in your network. What would you install?

Answer 28

Star

Question 29

Which physical topology has the most connections AND is the least popular option for LANs?

Answer 29

Mesh…

Question 30

What type of WAN technology uses labels which enables priority of voice through the network?

Answer 30

MPLS

Question 31

How safe are peer-to-peer networks?

Answer 31

Not really safe

Question 32

Contrast LANs and WANs in 3 ways

Answer 32

1) WANs require a router
2) WANs cover larger geo areas
3) WANs can utilize either private or public data transport

Question 33

Name 3 advantages of client-server over peer-to-peer logical network topology

Answer 33

1) Easier maintenance
2) Greater organization
3) Tighter security

Question 34

You have a network with multiple LANs and want to keep them separate but still connect them together so they can all get to the internet. Which of the following is the best solution

Answer 34

INSTALL A ROUTER!

Question 35

What type of topology gives you a distant connection between two routers s.t. there is one communication path

Answer 35

Point-to-point