Networking Topologies, Classful IP Addressing, and Data Transmission

Flashcards covering networking topologies, classful IP addressing, and data transmission methods from the lecture notes.

What is a network topology?

A network topology is a way of "laying out" the network, which can be either physical or logical.

How do physical and logical topologies differ?

Physical topologies describe how the cables are run, while logical topologies describe how network messages travel.

What type of cable structure does a Bus Topology typically use?

A Bus Topology typically uses one long cable called a backbone and short cables called drop cables.

What is a significant disadvantage of a Bus Topology in terms of media failure?

Bus cable faults or breaks stop all communications, affecting every device due to excessive noise from signal reflection.

How is a Ring Topology structured?

A Ring Topology is a circular topology where each node is connected to its two nearest nodes, forming a closed loop.

What makes troubleshooting easier in a Ring Topology?

Because each device incorporates a repeater, cable faults can be found easily.

How do devices connect in a Star Topology?

Each networked device is connected via a point-to-point link to a central device, using drop cables extending in all directions.

How does a Star Topology handle media faults?

It handles media faults relatively well; if a fault occurs, the hub/switch can identify and remove the offending link from the network.

Why is a Mesh Topology generally not considered practical?

It is not practical because each device requires an interface for every other device in the network due to point-to-point connections between all devices.

What defines a Cellular/Wireless Topology?

It combines wireless point-to-point and multi-point strategies to divide a geographic area into cells, where devices within a cell communicate with a central station.

What is the primary function of a network backbone?

A network backbone is the central infrastructure in larger computer networks that interconnects local subnetworks.

Describe a Collapsed Backbone network configuration.

A Collapsed Backbone provides a backbone in a centralized location, to which all subnetworks are attached.

What is an IP address?

An IP address is a 32-bit unique address containing information on how to reach a specific host, especially outside the LAN, with an address space of 2^32.

What are Class D and Class E IP addresses reserved for?

Class D IP addresses are reserved for multicasting, and Class E IP addresses are reserved for experimental purposes.

What is the key difference between a broadcast and a multicast data transmission?

A broadcast delivers a packet to every destination on the network, whereas a multicast is directed only to a specific group of hosts on the network, not all of them.