1.4 Wired and Wireless Networks

Question 1

What is a Network?

Answer 1

Where devices have been connected together so that they can share data and resources

Question 2

What is a Local Area Network [LAN]?

Answer 2

Covers a small geographical area such as an office

Uses their own infrastructure

Question 3

What is a Wide Area Network [WAN]?

Answer 3

Covers a large geographical area and connects LAN’s together

Question 4

What is Bandwith?

Answer 4

Amount of data that can be passed between network devices per second

Question 5

What is a Server?

Answer 5

A device that provides services for other devices or clients

Question 6

What is a Peer-Peer Network?

Answer 6

All of the computers in the network are equal to one another

They connect directly to each other

Question 7

What is a Standalone computer?

Answer 7

A computer not connected to a Network

Question 8

What is a Network Interface Controller [NIC]?

Answer 8

Built-in hardware that allows a device to connect to a network

Question 9

What is Switch?

Answer 9

Connect devices on a LAN network

Question 10

What is a Router?

Answer 10

Transmits data between the networks

For example the internet and your LAN

Question 11

What is a Wireless Access Point [WAP]?

Answer 11

A switch that allows devices to connect wirelessly

Question 12

How does Bandwith affect the performance of the network?

Answer 12

More Bandwith = More data can be transferred at one time

Question 13

How does the number of users affect the performance of the network?

Answer 13

Having a lot of users = more data collision = slows down the network

Question 14

What are some wireless factors that affect the performance of the network?

Answer 14

Walls
Distance
Signal Quality
Interference

Question 15

How does a topology affect the performance of the network?

Answer 15

Different layouts can affect the performance of the network

Question 16

What is a virtual network?

Answer 16

Part of a LAN or WAN where only certain devices can see and communicate with each other usually connected remotely

Question 17

What are the advantages of a client-server network?

Answer 17

Easy to take backups

Easy to manage security

Question 18

What are the disadvantages of a client-server network?

Answer 18

Expensive to setup

The server is a single-point of failure

Question 19

What are the advantages of a peer-peer to network?

Answer 19

No single point of faliure

Cheaper then client-server

Question 20

What are the disadvantages of a peer-peer network?

Answer 20

The network is less secure
Users will need to manage their own backup
Can be difficult to maintain a good order file store

Question 21

Why is it beneficial to use a LAN?

Answer 21

Sharing files is easier
Can share the same hardware
Install update and software on all computers at once

Question 22

What are the similarities between a switch and a router?

Answer 22

Both send data to the intended recipient

Both are networking devices

Question 23

What are the differences between a router and a switch?

Answer 23

A router uses an IP address to send data whilst a switch uses MAC addresses to transmit frames to other devices
Routers usually help users take a faster route for data to go through while the switch does it less efficiently
Switches are restricted to wired-only connections whilst Routers can use both wired and wireless connections
Switches can only be used on a LAN network

Question 24

What 2 types of frequency bands does WIFI use?

Answer 24

2.4 GHz and 5GHz

Question 25

What are the differences between 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels?

Answer 25

2.4Ghz has greater range and is better getting through walls | 5GHz is faster over short distances

Question 26

What are Coaxial cables made up of?

Answer 26

Made up of a single copper wire surrounded by a plastic layer for insulation

Question 27

What is a modem?

Answer 27

Enables a computer to connect to the internet over a telephone line. A modem converts digital signals from a computer to analogue signals that are then sent down the telephone line

Question 28

What is a hub?

Answer 28

A hub broadcasts data to all devices on a network. This can use a lot of bandwidth as it results in unnecessary data being sent - not all computers might need to receive the data.

Question 29

What is a bridge?

Answer 29

A bridge is used to connect two separate LAN networks. A computer can act as a bridge through the operating system

Question 30

What is the purpose of a web server?

Answer 30

Hosting websites | Dealing with client requests

Question 31

What happens when a URL request is made from the user?

Answer 31

Browser sends the domain name to the domain name server DNS maps the domain to an IP address and returns it to the browser The resource is sent to a web server using IP Address Webpage is produced

Question 32

What is the cloud?

Answer 32

Servers that can be used to store data and programs that can be accessed and used over the internet