CS networks Flashcards
(23 cards)
What is the role of the network interface card?
Connects a computer to a network
What is the role of the wireless access point?
Gives wireless devices access to a network
What is the role of the router?
Sends data between networks; needed to connect LAN to WAN. Uses IP addresses to route traffic
What is the role of the switch?
Sends data between computers in a LAN. It’s intelligent - it knows where devices are
Compare copper cables to fibre optic cables
Fibre optic cables have higher bandwidth and cover longer distances than copper cables
Describe ethernet
A standard used for wired connections. Reliable and error free.
When might bluetooth be used? Why?
To connect headphones to a phone for music, due to low range
Compare wired vs wireless connections for a LAN
Wired connections have higher bandwidth and are more reliable, though they are also more expensive; wired networks allow devices to move around freely within range, and users can share things with each other on the network
Discuss the pros and cons of cloud storage
You can access it at any time from any device, and it has a large storage capacity; you’re more vulnerable to hacking and malware
Detail how encryption works.
Data is scrambled into cipher text using a master key, and is decrypted with the same key.
Describe Caesar encryption and WPA encryption
Caesar encryption shifts each item along in the alphabet by the same distance - it’s decrypted by reversing it. WPA encryption shifts each letter corresponding to the number in the key for that position.
What is a MAC address? How do you identify one?
There’s a MAC address in every NIC, and it’s used to route frames in LAN. It’s six pairs of hexadecimal digits separated by colons.
What is an IP address? Compare an IP4 to an IP6 address.
IP addresses are used to route packets on WANs. IP4 addresses are 4 numbers, 0-255, separated by full stops. IP6 addresses are 8 sections of 4 hexadecimal digits separated by colons.
What is a standard? Why are standards necessary?
Standards are rules or specifications for software and hardware to follow so that they can communicate and work together
What is a protocol?
A specific set of rules for formatting and processing data
Describe the FTP protocol
File transfer protocol: Uploads files from a client to server, or downloads files from server to client.
Describe the HTTP protocol
Hyptertext transfer protocol: Transfers data (videos, images, code, any data) from client to server and server to browser.
Describe the SMTP protocol
Secure mail transfer protocol: sends emails from one computer to another by sending the email to the sender’s mail server then forwarding it to the recipient’s mail server.
Describe the POP protocol
Post office protocol: Downloads the entire email, and once downloaded, it cannot be accessed from another devcie. Best used with fast network connection.
Describe the IMAP protocol
Internet message access protocol: remotely accesses emails from a server by taking a copy.
Describe layers
Dividing networking, which is a very complex task, and breaking it into several different layers. Each layer has its own responsibility.
What are the advantages of layers?
You can easily isolate and fix issues, layers from different vendors can work together, devices can be manufactured to work at a specific layer.
Describe the TCP/IP protocol
TCP: Error free transmission between two routers.
IP: Routes packets across WAN using IP addresses
