Networking Module 6: LAN- Frames, Packets & Technologies

Flashcards for Networking Module 6 covering LAN frames, packets, technologies, network switching, and topologies.

Hexadecimal character

Represents 4 bits of information.

MAC

Media Access Control, a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications within a network segment.

NIC

Network Interface Card, a hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network.

PAN

Personal Area Network, a computer network used for data transmission among devices located close to a single user.

LAN

Local Area Network, a computer network that interconnects computers within a limited area such as a residence, school, or office building.

MAN

Metropolitan Area Network, a computer network larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN, covering a city or a large campus.

WAN

Wide Area Network, a telecommunications network that extends over a large geographic area.

IEEE

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a professional association that also develops standards for technologies.

LLC

Logical Link Control, the upper sublayer of the data link layer that manages frame synchronization, flow control, and error checking.

SOH

Start of Header, a control character used in data transmission to indicate the beginning of a header.

EOT

End of Transmission, a control character used in data transmission to indicate the conclusion of a transmission block.

Circuit Switching

A method of implementing a telecommunications network in which a dedicated communications path is established between two nodes before they can communicate.

Circuit Switching (Telephone Technology)

Associated with telephone technology because it provides a dedicated, continuous connection for the duration of a call between two parties.

Dedicated Connection (Telephone System)

A direct, continuous communication path reserved exclusively for two telephones for the entire duration of a call, meaning the line cannot be used by others.

Circuit Switching vs. Packet Switching (Order)

Circuit switching came first.

Properties of Circuit Switching

Dedicated path, constant bandwidth, connection-oriented.

Packet Switching

A method of grouping data into packets that are transmitted independently over a network and reassembled at their destination.

Properties of Packet Switching

Data broken into packets, no dedicated path, packets routed independently.

Packet Switching (Internet Basis)

Considered the basis of the Internet because it allows for efficient and flexible sharing of network resources by breaking data into small, independently routable packets.

Vint Cerf

Considered the 'Father of the Internet' for his co-development of TCP/IP protocols, which are fundamental to the Internet's operation.

Circuit Switching Cost

Typically higher cost due to dedicated resources reserved for the entire connection duration, even when idle.

Packet Switching Cost

Typically lower cost due to shared network resources and efficient use of bandwidth, as resources are only used when data is actually being transmitted.

IEEE 802 Model

A family of IEEE standards that define the physical and logical link layer (MAC and LLC) for local and metropolitan area networks.

BUS Topology

A network topology where all devices are connected to a single central cable (bus).

RING Topology

A network topology where devices are connected in a circular fashion, and data travels around the ring in one direction.

MESH Topology

A network topology where every device is connected directly to every other device in the network.

STAR Topology

A network topology where all devices are individually connected to a central hub or switch.

MAC Address

A unique hardware identification number burned into the Network Interface Card (NIC) by the manufacturer, used for communications within a network segment.

MAC Address Parts

Consists of two parts: the OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifier) identifying the manufacturer, and the device identifier, uniquely assigned by the manufacturer.

Frames

A unit of data transmitted at the data link layer of the OSI model, containing header, payload, and trailer information.

Byte Stuffing

A process used in data transmission to ensure that special control characters appearing within the data payload are not misinterpreted as delimiters, by inserting an 'escape' byte before them.

Purpose of Byte Stuffing

To prevent unintended interpretation of control characters within the data payload, ensuring data transparency and correct framing.

Unicast

A one-to-one transmission where data is sent from a single source to a single destination device on the network.

Broadcast

A one-to-all transmission where data is sent from a single source to all devices on a network segment.

Multicast

A one-to-many transmission where data is sent from a single source to a specific group of interested devices on a network.