Networking Flashcards
(45 cards)
What are some examples of network hardware?
Network interface card (NIC), Hub, Switch, Modem, Router, Access point, Bridge / gateway, firewall, patch panel, and CAT cables
What is a NIC?
- hardware component, typically a circuit board or chip, installed on a computer so it can connect to a network
What is a hub?
The dumb versions of switches
● Message is broadcast to every port on the hub
● Considered obsolete due to inefficiency
What is a switch?
Connects multiple devices together and forwards data packets to/from those devices
● Only sends data to the device it is intended for
● Contains memory and knows which node is on which port
What is a modem?
Processes signal from internet service provider and interfaces with local network
What is a router?
Creates local network, routes service to devices
What is an access point?
Allows devices to connect to a network wirelessly, often combined with a router
What is a bridge/gateway?
connects multiple sub-networks to create a single, larger network
What is a firewall?
Monitors traffic to and from your network. It allows or blocks traffic based on a defined set of security rules
What is a patch panel?
Mounted hardware assembly that contains ports used to connect and manage incoming and outgoing LAN cables. Enables flexible physical connectivity into a network and keeps cables organized
What is a CAT cable?
Made of unshielded twisted pair (UTP) wire
What are the speeds of CAT 1 - CAT 8?
CAT 1 - 1 Mbps
CAT 2 - 4 Mbps
CAT 3 - 10 Mbps / 100m
CAT 4 - 16 Mbps/ 100m
CAT 5 - 100 Mbps / 100m
CAT 5e - 1 Gbps / 100m
CAT 6 - 1 Gbps/ 100m or 10 Gbps/ 55m
CAT 6a - 10 Gbps / 100m
CAT 7 - 10 Gbps
CAT 8 - 40 Gbps
What are some network architecture models?
Client-server model, peer-to-peer (P2P), and web server
Describe the client-server model
Centralized network where one or more devices, or servers, provide services and resources to other devices, or clients.
● Clients request and receive data from servers which handle processing and storage
● More reliable, secure, and efficient than P2P
● High cost, complex, and require maintenance
● Require specialized hardware and software and depend on the functionality and available of the servers
● Suitable for large-scale, permanent, or formal applications, such as web hosting, email, or database management
Describe P2P
Each machine on the network can act as both server and client (like Bitcoin and Tor)
● Easy to setup – minimal hardware and software requirements
● Users control their own data and resources
● Limited performance, reliability, and security
● Suitable for small-scale, temporary, or informal applications (gaming, file sharing, and messaging)
Describe web server model
software and hardware that uses HTTP and other protocols to respond to client requests made of the web
What are some network topologies?
Bus, star, ring, mesh, tree, point to point
Describe a bus topology
A single line of devices connected together by one shared network cable, outdated
● Computers connect to the network by physically tapping into the network cable
● Devices cannot send and receive simultaneously due to collision along single line of communication
● Not secure or private, all computers attached to the network will receive any and all traffic sent on the network
● Inexpensive, easy to install, and difficult to reconfigure
● Failure on the network cable means complete network failure
Describe a star (hub and spoke) topology
Composed of a central network device connected to various network devices by individual network cables
● All communication is sent through a central access point
● Most common type of network found in LANs
● Versatile. Cables can be run through a building, making moving and hooking up equipment easier
● Break in comm line only affects a single device
● Failure of switch means complete network failure
Describe a ring topology
Connects devices with exactly two neighboring devices
● Doesn’t have to actually look like a ring.
● Data flows in one direction (can be made bidirectional by having 2 connections between each node called a 2 ring topology)
● Reduces collision since everything travels in one direction
● Cheap to install and expand
● Pass tokens. A token is a frame of data transmitted between network points.
● Break in the connection means complete network failure
Describe a mesh topology
Connects every device to every other device
● Very high fault tolerance
● Not reasonable at high numbers
● Expensive to add new nodes
● Can establish new connections around failed nodes as needed
● Usually Wi-Fi with multiple routers
Describe a tree topology
a variation of the star topology with a hierarchical flow of data
● Multi-point connection and a non-robust topology because if the backbone fails the topology crashes
● Allows the network to get isolated and prioritize from different computers
● Error detection and correction are easy
● High installation cost (due to cabling)
● Adding devices can make reconfiguration difficult
Describe point to point topology
A point-to-point network topology is a simple network structure where two networking devices are directly connected to each other through a dedicated communication link. This type of topology is typically used for simple and straightforward communication needs, allowing for direct data transfer between the two devices without the need for any intermediate networking devices or paths.
What are some network protocols?
HTTP, TCP/IP, UDP, DHCP, Syslog, ARP
