CTS Networking Flashcards
(168 cards)
Define a network
Two or more nodes interconnected so they can share data.
Networks have two main parts:
Nodes (any device that sends and receives data) and connections (physical means data travels from one mode to another).
Is a patch panel a node or a connection?
Connection!
Is a switch a node or a connection?
Node!
PAN?
Personal Area Network. Limited range wireless network that serves a single person or small workgroup.
CAN?
Campus area network. Communications network covers a group of adjacent buildings within the same organisation.
MAN?
Metropolitan area network. Network that covers a suburb or a city.
GAN?
Global area network. Network that spans the globe. The internet!
What are two ways you can categorise networks and which is better?
Geographically (PAN, CAN, MAN, GAN…) or whether nodes use physical or logical addresses to communicate. Second is better.
What does MAC address stand for?
Media Access Control Address
Do LANs use physical or logical address to communicate?
Physical. Uses the MAC address.
Describe a LAN (characteristics, not logistics).
privately owned and operated. Fast and high capacity. Required devices to be directly and physically connected.
Name 6 different kinds of LAN topology.
bus, ring, star, meshed, partially meshed, extended star.
Describe LAN bus topology.
All nodes connected through a single cable. Any node fails everything beyond it goes down.
Describe LAN ring topology.
Nodes are arranged in sequence like bus, but makes a circle. Info can go both directions, which makes redundant paths. If one node fails info still flows.
Describe LAN star topology.
All nodes connect to a single point (router, switch, hub). If one node fails info still flows. Central device is a single point of failure.
Describe LAN meshed topology.
Each node connects to every other node. Fast and redundant. Expense to create that many physical connections, though. Rare.
Describe LAN partially meshed topology.
Nodes connect to several other nodes, but not all. Good redundancy - several must fail at once to stop communication.
Describe LAN extended star topology.
A star with several layers of hierarchy. Device fails and everything below is cut off but the rest of the network works. Central device is still a single point of failure.
What is a WAN?
A network that connects one or more LANs together. WANs use logical address to communicate.
What is a logical address?
Usually an IP address (Internet Protocol).
What type of network uses a logical address?
WAN
What are the nodes on a WAN?
Routers. The router is at the top of the LAN network hierarchy.
What does the router do before sending info from the LAN to the WAN?
Strips the packet of identifying LAN information, like MAC addresses. This protects devices on the LAN.