1.3 - networks, connections, protocols

Question 1

Network

Answer 1

Two or more computers connected together for the purposes of sharing data or resources.

Question 2

LAN (Local Area Network)

Answer 2

A network which covers a small geographic area such as a single building.

Question 3

WAN (Wide Area Network)

Answer 3

A network which covers a large geographic area. The internet is a WAN

Question 4

Client - Server network

Answer 4

A network setup where resources or processing are carried out by a central computer (called a server) with other devices (called clients) accessing resources via the network.

Question 5

Peer to Peer Network

Answer 5

A network setup where all computers have an equal status and function as both client and server.

Question 6

Wireless Access Point

Answer 6

Uses a wireless radio to allow devices to connect wirelessly to an existing network.

Question 7

Router

Answer 7

A device which connects two or more different networks together allowing them to communicate with one another.

Question 8

Switch

Answer 8

A device which provides computers and other devices with a wired connection to a network.

Question 9

NIC (Network Interface Card)

Answer 9

A component within a computer or other device which allow it to connect to a network. The card provides the physical connection to the network and controls the sending and receiving of data between a computer & network. It may be built into the computer motherboard or a separate expansion card.

Question 10

Transmission Media

Answer 10

The physical connection which carries data between network devices. This could be a cable or wireless signals depending on the network.

Question 11

DNS (Domain Name System)

Answer 11

A system which links a URL or other human readable name with an IP address.

Question 12

Hosting

Answer 12

The storing of files or other data on a server. The server storing the data is called the host.

Question 13

The Cloud

Answer 13

A term for accessing storage or other resources remotely across The Internet.

Question 14

Web Server

Answer 14

A server which hosts web sites and pages for users to access, usually via the internet.

Question 15

Network Topology

Answer 15

The way in which computers and other network devices are connected together.

Question 16

Star Network Topology

Answer 16

A network topology where all devices connect back to a single central point. All communications travel via the central point.

Question 17

Mesh Network Topology

Answer 17

A network topology where all devices are connected to each other rather than a central point.

Question 18

Bandwidth

Answer 18

The amount of data which can be transferred via a network in any given time. More bandwidth allows more data to travel across the network at the same time resulting in faster transfer speeds.

Question 19

The Internet

Answer 19

A global network connecting millions of computers and other devices.

Question 20

URL

Answer 20

Uniform Resource Locator. A human readable name given to websites and other Internet resources. DNS is used to translate the URL into the IP of the web server.

Question 21

Client

Answer 21

A computer or other device which accesses data from a central server.

Question 22

Ethernet

Answer 22

A physical copper cable used to connect devices on a network. The term also refers to the protocols and standards used to control how data is sent and received on the cable.

Question 23

Wi-Fi

Answer 23

A technology which uses wireless signals to connect network devices.

Question 24

Bluetooth

Answer 24

A short range wireless networking technology. It has relatively low range and speeds and is most often used for peripheral devices such as mice or headsets.

Question 25

Encryption

Answer 25

The process of converting data so that it can't be easily read/understood without first being decrypted. It is often used to keep important data secure when sharing it over a network.

Question 26

IP Address

Answer 26

Stands for Internet Protocol Address. A unique address assigned to every computer on a network.

Question 27

IPv4

Answer 27

Internet Protocol Version 4. Devices are assigned addresses made up of four numbers separated by dots, e.g. 232.112.11.1 each number can be between 0 and 255.

Question 28

IPv6

Answer 28

Internet Protocol Version 6. Designed in response to the limited number of addresses in IPv4. Devices are assigned an address made of eight groups of hexadecimal characters such as FE80:CD00:0000:0CDE:1257:0000:211E:729C

Question 29

MAC Address

Answer 29

Media Access Control Address. A 12 digit hexadecimal number assigned to a network interface card. Each card has its own unique MAC addressed assigned when the card is made. 2C:54:91:88:C9:E3

Question 30

Standard

Answer 30

An agreed way of doing something allowing different people and organisations to make products and services which work together.

Question 31

Protocol

Answer 31

An agreed set of rules for how network communications should take place.

Question 32

TCP/IP

Answer 32

Transfer Control Protocol / Internet Protocol. A group of standards which control how data is sent and received over networks including the Internet.

Question 33

HTTP

Answer 33

Hypertext Transfer Protocol. A standard for transferring web pages between a client and web server. It is based that clients send a request which the server responds to.

Question 34

HTTPS

Answer 34

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. A version of the HTTP standard with security added. Commonly used for accessing secure websites such as online banking.

Question 35

FTP

Answer 35

File Transfer Protocol. A standard for file transfer over networks.

Question 36

POP

Answer 36

Post Office Protocol. A standard used by email clients to retrieve emails from an email server.

Question 37

IMAP

Answer 37

Internet Message Access Protocol. A standard used by email clients to access emails stored on an email server. It has the advantage over POP of allowing emails to be stored and organised on the mail server.

Question 38

SMTP

Answer 38

Simple Message Transfer Protocol. A standard used for the sending of emails over networks and The Internet.