Network Devices

Question 1

What is a wireless access point?

Answer 1

• It provides a link between wireless and wired networks.
• It creates a wireless LAN that allows WiFi-enabled devices to connect to a wired network.

Question 2

Examples of wireless access points:

Answer 2

• WiFi or Bluetooth hotspot e.g WiFi hotspot in a coffee shop or airport to connect to a wired network.
• It may be a separate device or built into another device such as a router.

Question 3

What are routers used for?

Answer 3

• Routers are used to transfer data packets between networks.

Question 4

How do routers work?

Answer 4

• They receive data packets and use the IP address in the packet header to determine the best route to transmit the data.
• Data is transferred from router to router across the internet towards the destination.

Question 5

What do routers store?

Answer 5

• A router stores the IP address of each computer connected to it on the network and uses a list called a routing table to calculate the quickest and shortest route to transfer data.

Question 6

What is a switch used for?

Answer 6

• To connect devices together on a LAN.

Question 7

How do switches work?

Answer 7

• It receives data packets from a connected node, reads the destination address in the packet and forwards the data directly to its destination.

Question 8

What does a switch generate?

Answer 8

• A list of the MAC addresses of all devices connected to it when it receives data, and must scan for a matching destination address before sending.

Question 9

Switches vs Hubs -

Answer 9

• An alternative to a witch is a hub.
• However, a hub is slower and less secure.
• This is because a hub forwards a copy of received data to all connected nodes.

Question 10

What is a NIC?

Answer 10

• A network interface controller/card is an internal piece of hardware that is required for the computers to connect to a network.

Question 11

What does the NIC include?

Answer 11

• A MAC address which is used when sending data across a LAN.

Question 12

What is the purpose of plugging in an Ethernet cable into the network card?

Answer 12

• To allow data to be exchanged between the device and a network.

Question 13

What did a NIC used to be, and what is it now?

Answer 13

• Used to be a separate expansion card.
• It is now typically embedded on the motherboard.

Question 14

What is transmission media?

Answer 14

• The communication channel along which data is transferred.

Question 15

Ethernet Cables:

Answer 15

• Used typically on a LAN to transfer data between nodes and hardware such as switches.
• Examples include Cat5e and Cat6.

Question 16

Fibre Optic Cables:

Answer 16

• Very fast
• More expensive
• Fragile
• Used to send data quickly along a WAN.
• Data is sent as pulses of light.

Question 17

Coaxial Cables:

Answer 17

• Older
• Slower
• Cheaper
• Not used as much in modern times as they can be affected by electromagnetic interference.