Local Area Network

In a Local Area Network, which devices are defined as those that request information from servers?

Clients

In a Local Area Network, which devices are defined as those that deliver information or provide services to clients?

Servers

What is the common abbreviation for Network Interface Cards?

NICs

Term: Network Interface Card (NIC)

Definition: A hardware component, also known as a network adapter, that connects a device to a network.

At which two layers of the OSI model do Network Interface Cards (NICs) operate?

Layers 1 and 2

Where are Ethernet NICs most commonly located in modern computer hardware?

Built into motherboards

What unique identifier is contained within every Ethernet NIC?

MAC address

What is the maximum data rate of Category 3 (Cat3) UTP cable?

$10\text{ Mbps}$

Category 3 cabling is associated with which specific Ethernet type?

10BASE-T

What is the maximum data rate of Category 5 (Cat5) cabling?

$100\text{ Mbps}$

Category 5 cabling is associated with which specific Ethernet type?

100BASE-T

What is the maximum data rate of Category 5e (Cat5e) cabling?

$1\text{ Gbps}$

Category 5e cabling is associated with which specific Ethernet type?

1000BASE-T (or 1GbE)

What is the maximum data rate of Category 6 or 6a cabling?

$10\text{ Gbps}$

Category 6/6a cabling is associated with which specific Ethernet type?

10GBASE-T (or 10GbE)

What is the typical data rate range for OM1 ($62.5/125\text{ }\mu\text{m}$) Fiber cabling?

$1-10\text{ Gbps}$

What is the typical data rate range for OM3 ($50/125\text{ }\mu\text{m}$) Fiber cabling?

$10-100\text{ Gbps}$

The actual data rate of Fiber optic circuits depends primarily on the _____.

Circuit length

Which two cabling categories are currently considered the standard for user LANs?

Cat5 and Cat5e

How do Hubs and Switches function as repeaters for incoming signals?

They reconstruct and strengthen signals.

How does a Hub handle information intended for a specific client?

It sends the information to all connected clients.

How does a Switch handle information intended for a specific client?

It sends the information only to the intended client.

Wireless Access Points (WAPs) use _____ waves to connect wireless clients to the wired network.

Radio

Concept: Power over Ethernet (PoE)

Definition: A technology that provides electrical power to network devices through Ethernet cabling, eliminating the need for external power sources.

What type of software runs on network devices to manage networking functions?

Network Operating System (NOS)

Which common LAN hardware component does NOT run a Network Operating System (NOS)?

Hub

Which protocol suite is used by network software on client devices within the operating system?

TCP/IP

Concept: Logical Topology

Definition: The conceptual way a network works or how data flows through it.

Concept: Physical Topology

Definition: The actual physical installation and layout of network cables and devices.

Hub-based Ethernet is often referred to as _____ or traditional Ethernet.

Shared

What is the logical topology of a Hub-based Ethernet network?

Bus topology

What is the physical topology of a Hub-based Ethernet network?

Star topology

In a Hub-based Ethernet network, how do devices receive messages?

All devices receive all messages as if connected to a multipoint circuit.

What is the logical topology of a Switch-based Ethernet network?

Star topology

What is the physical topology of a Switch-based Ethernet network?

Star topology

What specific mechanism does a switch use to identify where to send a message?

Destination MAC address

Switch-based Ethernet uses _____ tables, which are similar to routing tables, to direct traffic.

Forwarding (or MAC)

In Switch-based Ethernet, the connection between the switch and a client is a _____ circuit.

Point-to-point

Which switching mode retransmits frames only after the entire frame is received and an error check is complete?

Store and forward switching

What is the primary disadvantage of Store and Forward switching?

It is slower than other modes.

Which switching mode retransmits frames immediately after the destination address is read?

Cut-through switching

What is the primary benefit of Cut-through switching?

Low latency

Which switching mode retransmits frames once the header is received and verified to be error-free?

Fragment-free switching

Fragment-free switching is considered a compromise between Store and Forward and _____ switching.

Cut-through

Wireless Ethernet is technically defined by which set of IEEE standards?

802.11

Name two types of antennas used by Wireless Access Points (WAPs).

Omnidirectional and Directional

What is the logical topology of a Wireless Ethernet network?

Bus topology

What is the physical topology of a Wireless Ethernet network?

Star topology

During Wi-Fi association, what type of frame do clients send to search for available networks?

Probe frame

During Wi-Fi association, what type of frame does the WAP respond with to acknowledge the client?

Beacon frame

What is the maximum data rate of the 802.11a wireless standard?

$54\text{ Mbps}$

Which wireless standard operates at $11\text{ Mbps}$ using the $2.4\text{ GHz}$ frequency?

802.11b

What frequency band(s) does the 802.11n standard use?

$2.4\text{ GHz}$ and $5\text{ GHz}$

What is the maximum data rate of the 802.11ac wireless standard?

$6.77\text{ Gbps}$

Which wireless standard requires line-of-sight for its $60\text{ GHz}$ band to function?

802.11ad

How many non-overlapping channels are available in the $2.4\text{ GHz}$ frequency range in the US?

3

How many non-overlapping channels are available in the $5\text{ GHz}$ frequency range in the US?

12

In wireless networking, how does higher frequency affect signal range and attenuation?

Higher frequency leads to greater attenuation and shorter range.

Which obsolete wireless security protocol is described as 'easily breakable'?

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)

Which wireless security protocol is currently recommended, despite still being breakable?

WPA2

What is the purpose of MAC address filtering in a WLAN?

To prevent casual or unauthorized users from connecting to the network.

List the three core principles of LAN Design.

Performance, Security, and Management

What is the 'Best Practice' recommendation for the relationship between wired and wireless LANs?

Wired LAN as the primary network and wireless as an overlay.

When planning for LAN growth, what is the recommended Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) to accommodate?

$30\%$

In LAN design, is it better to choose the fastest available technology or stable technology?

Stable technology

What is the Cisco standard for Wireless Access Point (WAP) coverage area?

70 foot cubes

What two practical steps are performed to finalize a WLAN design after identifying interference sources?

Floor Plan and Site Survey

If a laptop requires $1\text{ Mbps}$ and has a throughput of $150\text{ Mbps}$, what is its required airtime percentage?

$0.66\%$

If a mobile device requires $1\text{ Mbps}$ and has a throughput of $30\text{ Mbps}$, what is its required airtime percentage?

$3.3\%$

How many Access Points (APs) are needed for a total airtime requirement of $793\%$?

8 Access Points

Why is the calculated number of Access Points often increased by $20\%$ in high-density designs?

To account for the overhead needed to manage traffic.

What is the purpose of a Bottleneck analysis in LAN design?

To identify and resolve points in the network that restrict data flow and performance.

Which wireless frequency range provides wider bandwidth and more channels, $2.4\text{ GHz}$ or $5\text{ GHz}$?

$5\text{ GHz}$

In a switched network, what is the 'forwarding table' primarily used for?

Mapping MAC addresses to specific physical ports on the switch.

Which networking device acts as a multiport repeater, broadcasting all incoming signals to all ports?

Hub

Category 5 cabling can come in two shielding types: UTP and _____.

STP (Shielded Twisted Pair)

What does the abbreviation 'WAP' stand for?

Wireless Access Point

Wireless Ethernet relies on _____ to establish a connection between a client and a WAP.

Handshakes

The 802.11ad standard operates primarily in which frequency band?

$60\text{ GHz}$

What is the primary advantage of using Fiber optic cabling over UTP in a LAN?

Higher data rates (up to $100\text{ Gbps}$) and longer circuit lengths.