3 Networks Flashcards
(36 cards)
Local Area Network
It’s a network that covers a small area, like your home, office, or school. LANs are always used in most organizations, connecting computers, printers, and other devices in close proximity.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
WANs cover large geographical areas, connecting multiple LANs across cities, countries, or even continents.
*The internet is the largest WAN in existence
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
WLANs are like LANs that have cut the cord. They use wireless technology (usually Wi-Fi) to connect devices without the need for physical cables.
Personal Area Network (PAN)
They connect devices within arm’s reach, like your smartphone, smartwatch, and wireless earbuds.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
VPNs are the secret tunnels of the internet. They provide a secure, encrypted connection over a public network (usually the internet). And provide secure, private connections for remote users.
The Importance of Standards in Network Construction
- Interoperability: Standards ensure that devices from different manufacturers can communicate seamlessly. It’s like having a universal language for technology.
- Reliability: By following established standards, networks become more reliable and predictable in their behavior.
- Security: Standards provide guidelines for implementing robust security measures, helping to protect networks from cyber threats.
- Scalability: As networks grow, standards ensure they can expand smoothly without major overhauls.
- Cost-effectiveness: Standardization leads to wider availability of compatible equipment, often resulting in lower costs.
Technologies Required for VPNs
- Encryption
- Tunneling
Encryption
This scrambles your data, making it unreadable to anyone who might intercept it.
Tunneling
This process encapsulates your data packets within other packets, creating a secure “tunnel” through the public network.
Advantages of a VPN
- Enables remote work and secure access to corporate networks
- Enhances privacy and security through encryption
- Allows bypassing of geographical restrictions
- Provides anonymity by masking your real IP address
Disadvantages of a VPN
- Can slow down internet speeds due to encryption overhead
- Requires technical setup and maintenance
- Some VPN providers may log user data
- Not all devices or networks support VPN connections
Do VPNs guarantee total anonymity?
NO
While VPNs enhance privacy, they don’t guarantee total anonymity. Your VPN provider can still potentially see your internet activity.
Protocols
They’re standardized sets of rules that determine how data is transmitted, received, and processed across networks.
Data Packets
They’re units of data transmitted over a network, containing both address and routing information, plus the actual data being sent. +IP+TCP
Why Protocols Matter
- They ensure data integrity
- Manage flow control to prevent network congestion
- Provide error checking to identify and correct transmission errors
- Offer built-in security features
Enable compatibility between different devices and systems - Without protocols, network communication would be like a conversation where everyone speaks a different language and follows different social norms - chaos!
Factors Affecting Data Transmission Speed
- Network Traffic: Just like rush hour on the roads, networks can get congested.
- Time of Day: Internet usage often peaks during certain hours, affecting speeds.
- Distance: The further data has to travel, the longer it takes.
- Hardware Limitations: Outdated or overloaded equipment can slow things down.
- Packet Loss: Sometimes data packets get lost in transmission and need to be resent.
- Network Topology: The structure of the network can impact data flow.
Reasons for compressing data
- Faster Transmission: Smaller data sizes mean quicker transfers.
- Reduced Storage Requirements: Compressed data takes up less space.
- Efficient Bandwidth Usage: Compression allows more data to be sent using the same bandwidth.
Lossless Compression
Reduces file size without losing any data quality (great for text and critical data).
Lossy Compression
Achieves greater size reduction by discarding some data (commonly used for images, audio, and video).
Wired Media
- Copper cables (Ethernet)
- Fiber Optic: Uses light to transmit data, offering high speeds over long distances.
- Coaxial Cable: Have a central core and shielding, offer higher bandwidth and are better protected from interference, making them suitable for longer distances and high-speed data transmission like cable TV and internet connections
Wireless Media
Wi-fi
Infrared
Bluetooth
Satellite
Things to consider when using wireless media
- Security: How vulnerable is the medium to interception?
- Reliability: How consistent and error-free is the transmission?
- Cost: What are the installation and maintenance expenses?
- Speed: How quickly can data be transmitted?
Packet Switching
- Fragmentation: Large data is broken into smaller packets.
- Routing: Each packet is sent independently, potentially taking different paths to the destination.
- Reassembly: The packets are put back together at the destination in the correct order.
Advantages of Wireless Networks
- No need for physical cables, offering flexibility and mobility
- Easy to set up and expand
- Cost-effective for covering large areas
- Compatible with a wide range of devices
