Networking

Question 1

What is needed for a network to be wireless?

Answer 1

A WAP (Wireless Access Point)

Question 2

What does LAN stand for, and what is it?

Answer 2

Local Area Network

This is a network of computers that covers a small geographical area. All users are located on a single site.

Question 3

Who owns the infrastructure of a LAN?

Answer 3

The user

Question 4

What does WAN stand for, and what is it?

Answer 4

Wide Area Network

This is a network of computers that covers a large geographical area. Users can be located anywhere

Question 5

Who owns the infrastructure of a WAN?

Answer 5

The telephone lines / satellite signals used to connect LANs into a WAN are owned by the telecommunications companies.

Question 6

What are the factors that affect performance of a network?

Answer 6

• Bandwidth (max amount of data that can be sent /s)
• Number of users (more = less bandwidth per user)
• Transmission media (i.e. the connection)
• Error rate (how often an error occurs and a file needs to be re-sent)
• Latency (the time between sending a file and receiving it)

Question 7

Is bandwidth greater on a wired or wireless connection?

Answer 7

Wired

Question 8

What are the main types of cables?

Answer 8

Copper:
- UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)
- Cat5e
- Cat6
- Coaxial (less common)
Fibre optic

Question 9

What are the two main purposes of the switch?

Answer 9

It directs packets to the correct device it is connected to.

It manages which packets are delivered at what time, to ensure that there aren’t any collisions.