Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Computer Science OCR GCSE > 1.3 Computer Networks, Connects and Protocols > Flashcards

1.3 Computer Networks, Connects and Protocols Flashcards

1.3.1 Network topologies 1.3.2 Network and wireless networks, protocols, and layers

1
Q

Local Area Network (LAN)

A

-Covers a small geographical area located on a single site
-All the hardware for a LAN is owned by the organisation using it
-LANs are wired with UTP cables, fibre optic or wireless using Wi-Fi

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A

-Covers a large geographical area connecting LANs together.
-Infrastructure between LANs is leased with telecommunication companies who own and manage it.
-WANs are connected with telephone lines, fibre optic cables or satellite links.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How are computers in a LANs connected?

A

By a switch

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How are computers in WANs connected?

A

By a router

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q
A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the advantages of networking?

A

-Users can share files
-Users can share peripherals, such as printers, and connect to other networks, e.g. The Internet
-Users can access their files form any computer on the network

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the disadvantages of networking?

A

-Increased security risks to data
-Malware and viruses spread very easily between computers
-If a server fails, the computers connected to it may not work
-The computer may run more slowly if there is a lot of data travelling on the network

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the factors that affect the performance of networks?

A

-Bandwidth
-Number of Users
-Transmission Media
-Error rate
-Latency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Bandwidth

A

-The amount of data that can be sent and retrieved successfully in a given time.
Measured in bits per second or bit rate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

The Number of Users

A

-Too many users or devices on the same network can cause the network to slow down if there is insufficient bandwidth for the data.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Transmission Media

A

-Wired connections have a higher bandwidth than wireless connections
-Fibre optic cables have a higher bandwidth than copper cables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

The Error Rate

A

-Less reliable connections increase the number of errors that occur when data is transferred
-This means that data has to be resent until it arrives correctly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the signal quality of wireless connections dependent on?

A

The range of devices from the WAP and other environmental factors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the signal quality of copper cables determined by?

A

The grade of material used which reduces interference

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

T/F - The length of the cable is a factor of error rate?

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Latency

A

The delay from transmitting data to receiving it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What causes latency?

A

-Bottlenecks in the infrastructure of the network e.g., not using switches appropriately segment traffic on a network.
-Hardware such as switches and transmission media may not operate at the same speed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Client-sever model characteristics

A

-A server controls access and security to one shared file store
-A server manages access to The Internet
-A server manages printing jobs
-A server provides email services
-A server runs a backup of data
-A client makes requests to the server for data and connections

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Advantages of Client-Server model

A

-Easier to manage files
-Easier to take backups of all shared data
-Easier to install software updates to all computers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Disadvantages of Client-Server model

A

-Can be expensive to set up
-Requires IT specialists to maintain
-The server is a single point of failure
-Users will lose access if the server fails

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Characteristics of Peer-to-peer model

A

-A peer is a computer on a network and is equal to all other peers
-Peers serve their own files to each other
-Each peer is responsible for its own security and backup
-Peers usually have their own printer
-You can send print jobs to another peer to process, but that peer would need to be switched on to be able to connect with the connected printer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Advantages of Peer-to-peer model

A

-Very easy to maintain
-Specialist staff not required
-No dependency on a single computer
-Cheaper to set up
-no expensive hardware required

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Disadvantages of Peer-to-peer model

A

-The network is less secure
-Users will need to manage their own backups
-Can be difficult to maintain a well ordered file store

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Network Interface Card/Controller (NIC)

A

-Connects a device to wired/wireless networking connection
-Uses a protocol to ensure successful communication

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Wireless Access Point (WAP)
-Allows wireless-enabled devices to connect to the internet
26
Advantages of WAP
-More convenient as it avoids the need to install cables -Less bandwidth than a wired connection
27
Disadvantages of WAP
-Security is more of a concern with wireless connections -Connections is sometimes not as strong or reliable as wired connections
27
Switch
-Sends data between computers on LAN -They segment by forwarding traffic to the correct location -Switches learn which devices are connected and understand how to forward traffic in an intelligent way
28
Router
-Sends data between networks -It creates a WAN from a number of LANs -Uses and IP address (Internet Protocol) to route traffic
29
What can you not connect to a WAN without?
A router
30
Transmission media - Copper Cables (UTP)
-The wires are twisted around each other to reduce interference -Normally a set of wires for transmission and receiving -Copper cable is cheap and flexible which makes it easy to install
31
Transmission Media - Fibre Optic
-Uses light to transmit data -Cover much longer distances and greater bandwidth than copper and suffers from less interference -The backbone of The Internet uses fibre optic cables
32
The Internet
A global connection of interconnected networks
33
Domain Name Service (DNS)
Converts web addresses (which are easier for humans to remember) into IP addresses for routers
34
What are Domain Name Services made up of?
Multiple domain name servers
35
Hosting
Hosting is the storing of files and data on a web server. The web server is referred to as a host.
36
What do hosted solutions provide?
Hosted solutions provide 24/7 access, multiple users and greater security
37
Cloud Storage
Servers that store data and programs remotely that can be accessed and used over The Internet are referred to as cloud storage.
38
What do servers provide?
Servers provide services (e.g. Web server→ Web pages, File server → file storage/retrieval)
39
T/F - Clients request/ use services from a server?
True
40
Advantages of The Cloud
-Access anytime, anywhere, from any device -A large storage capacity -Automatic backup -Easy online collaboration
41
Disadvantages of The Cloud
-There is no guarantee that someone else is not accessing your data and that your data is being backed-up -Access to data is only possible with an internet connection - no connection means no access to data
42
Network Topology
A given arrangement of all the elements that you need for networking
43
Star Topology
-Most popular wired type of network -Central switch -All devices connect into central switch
44
Advantages of Star Topology
-Transfer speeds are generally faster as there are minimal network collisions -Improved security because data packets are sent directly to and from the switch
45
Disadvantages of Star Topology
-Extra hardware is required to be purchased, installed and maintained. -If central system fails, then the whole network will be unusable until the error is fixed.
46
Full Mesh Topology
-Every device is connected to every other device
47
Advantages of Full Mesh Topology
-If you get a break in any of the connections you can still route your traffic via another route -New networks can be added to the network without disrupting the entire topology
48
Disadvantages of Full Mesh Topology
-There is a lot more cabling and switch hardware required which will add to the cost for large networks -Redundant cabling should be avoided
49
Partial Mesh Topology
-Multiple routes exist between different devices -However, every device is not connected to every single other device -This lowers the amount of hardware needed compared to full mesh network
50
Ethernet
-A standard for networking topologies -Includes a number of associated protocols
51
What is Ethernet used for?
Used for communicating on a wired LAN
52
Advantage of Ethernet
Provides reliable, error-free, fast communication between two points
53
How is data transmitted in Ethernet?
54
Disadvantages of Ethernet
-Users location is limited by the need for physical cable connection -A set-up relying on Ethernet relies on lots of cables, connections, ports and physical hardware which will affect cost
55
Adavantages of Wi-Fi
-Users can move around freely -Easier to set up, and less expensive -Convenient to use -Can handle a large number of users -Transfer of information to social media is much easier -It has a range, around 100 meters
56
Disadvantages of Wi-Fi
-Speeds are slower than wired networks -Relies on signal strength to the WAP -Signal can be obstructed -Less secure than wired networks -It has a high power consumption
57
Advantages of Bluetooth
-It is ideal for connecting personal devices e.g. Bluetooth enabled headphones to connect to a mobile -It has low power consumption
58
Disadvantages of Bluetooth
-It has a very short range, around 10 meters -It has a low bandwidth
59
What is encryption?
When data is scrambled into cipher text using a master key created from the SSID of the network and password.
60
Why are wireless networks encrypted?
Wireless networks broadcast data, so it must be encrypted to be secure.
61
How is data decrypted?
The receiver uses the same master key, so this key is not transmitted.
62
What are MAC addresses used for?
MAC addressing is to route frames on a LAN: Each MAC address is unique to every NIC
63
What are IP addresses used for?
To route packets on a WAN:
64
What are the 2 versions of the IP addresses?
IPv4 IPv6
65
IPv4
-32 bits in size -Written as 4 numbers separated by (.), each number is in range of 0-255
66
IPv6
-128 bits in size -Written as eight groups separated by (:) -Each group is made up of four hex values representing 16 bits
67
What will a router have?
A unique WAN facing IP address and a LAN facing IP address -This enables a LAN device to have the same IP address as another device on another LAN

Computer Science OCR GCSE (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions