Networks

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Created from P.M.T. and Ada Comp. Sci notes

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29 Terms

1
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What is a network?

Two or more computers connected together with the ability to transmit data between each other

2
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What are the advantages of a network?

  • The ability to share files

  • The ability to have multi-user systems

  • The ability to share expensive hardware devices between multiple users

  • The ability for the organisation to track what users are doing (this can of course be a disadvantage for the individual user)

3
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What are the disadvantages of networks?

  • Extra hardware costs (cabling and connection devices)

  • Greater security risks

  • The cost of having to have employ someone to look after the network (depending on the size of the network)

4
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What is a local area network?

A network which is spread over a small geographical area or a single site

5
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LAN is the abreviation of…

…abreviation of local area network

6
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What is a wide area network?

A network which that connects two or more networks over a large geographical area

7
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WAN is the abreviation of…

…abreviation of wide area network

8
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What is a protocol and why must they be standardised?

  • A set of rules defining how two computers communicate with each other

  • They are standard so that all devices have a designated method of communicating with each other, regardless of manufacture

9
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What is a proxy?

A server that acts as an intermediary, collecting and sending data on behalf of the user

10
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What are the benefits of using a proxy?

  • The privacy of the user is protected and they remain anonymous

  • Can be used by administrators to prevent access to sensitive or irrelevant information at work or at school

  • The proxy server can cache frequently used website data making it faster to load

11
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What is a network interface card/contoller?

  • A hardware device that is used to connect a computer/device to a network

  • Each NIC has a unique MAC address

12
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What is a wireless access point?

A hardware device that allows wireless devices to connect to a network

13
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What is a modem?

A hardware device used to modulate the electrical signal, i.e. to change the signal so that it can be sent through a cable that uses a different technology.

14
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What is a gateway?

A network device that provides a link between two dissimilar networks (e.g. a LAN and the internet)

15
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What is a firewall?

A hardware device / piece of software that monitors and filters traffic going to and from a network.

16
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Why are firewalls used?

  • To prevent unauthorised access to a network.

  • To restrict applications that are used internally that have internet access.

  • To restrict websites that can be accessed from within the network.

17
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What is a bridge?

A network device that provides a link between local area networks

18
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Purpose of a network switch

  • Joins computers/devices together on a LAN 

  • Receives packets/data 

  • Recipient’s MAC address is given in packet header

  • Send packets/data out the correct port to the specific computer device

19
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What is a router?

A network device used to connect two or more networks together.

20
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Describe a peer-to-peer network

  • A network in which computers are connected to each other so that they can share files.

  • Each device effectively acts as both a server and client, as it can both provide and request resources

21
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What are the advantages of a peer-to-peer network?

  • Cheaper to set up

  • Easy to maintain

  • Not dependent on a central server

  • Specialist staff are not required

22
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What are the disadvantages of a peer-to-peer network?

  • Impossible to trace the origin of files

  • Backups must be performed separately

  • Poorer security

  • May be difficult to locate resources

23
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Describe the client-server network

  • A network that consists of terminals known as clients connected to a server.

  • The server is a powerful, central computer. The server holds all of the important information and resources.

  • The server has greater processing power than the terminals

  • The server provides access to a resource/service

  • Client computers connect to server 

24
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What are the advantages of client-server compared to peer-to-peer?

  • One location to backup

  • Centrally administered in one location - easier to manage users/access

  • Easier to keep data secure. 

  • Technicians can more easily remotely install / monitor

25
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What are the disadvantages of the client server model?

  • The server is a centrla point of failure

  • Can be expensive to set up - server hardware is costly

  • Can be expensive to maintain - requires specialist staff

26
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Unshielded twisted pair cable

  • Consists of twisted pairs of copper wires

  • Resilient to interference - twisting means that any interference would affect both wires of the pair in the same way, which cancels out the interference

  • Reliable up to 100 metres distance

27
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UTP is the abreviation of…

…abreviation of unsheilded twisted pair

28
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Fibre-optic cables

  • Cables that carry light

  • Not affected by electical interference

  • Can carry signals over very long distances

29
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Coaxial cables

  • Type of electrical cable that can be used to carry data

  • Has numerous issues with poor connections

  • Not commonly used anymore