Network Protocols and Structures

Flashcards covering key concepts from networking protocols and structures for exam preparation.

What does ICMP stand for and what is its purpose?

Internet Control Message Protocol; it's used for error reporting and network management.

What does Ping do?

It sends ICMP echo packets to test network performance and response time.

What is the difference between buffering and caching?

Buffering preloads data for smooth transfer; caching stores frequently used data for faster loading.

What is an ad-hoc network?

A temporary, unstructured network where devices connect directly without an access point.

What is an infrastructure network?

A structured network where devices connect via an access point.

What does an access point do?

It bridges wireless LAN traffic with a wired LAN.

List the OSI Layers in order from lowest to highest.

Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session, Presentation, Application.

What does DNS do?

Maps domain names to IP addresses.

What does DHCP provide?

IP address, subnet mask, DNS address, router/gateway.

What are the 1st octet ranges for IP Address Classes A, B, and C?

A: 0-127, B: 128-191, C: 192-223.

Who typically uses Class A, B, and C addresses?

A: Large corporations, B: Universities, C: Small businesses/homes.

What is WPAN? Give examples.

Wireless Personal Area Network; ex: Bluetooth, Zigbee.

What is WLAN? Give examples.

Wireless Local Area Network; ex: Hotspot, Wi-Fi.

What is WMAN? Give examples.

Wireless Metropolitan Area Network; ex: city-wide Wi-Fi, MetroPCS.

What is WWAN? Give examples.

Wireless Wide Area Network; ex: Starlink, T-Mobile, Verizon.

What is tethering?

Connecting one device to another (like a smartphone) to access the internet.

What's the difference between tethering and a hotspot?

Tethering connects a single device; a hotspot can connect multiple devices.

What is attenuation?

Signal strength loss over distance.

What is rain attenuation, and what bands does it affect?

Signal loss from rain; affects 28+ GHz bands, not 2.4 or 5.8 GHz.

What is terrestrial attenuation?

Signal loss due to obstacles like walls or buildings.

What is TCP used for and how does it work?

Connection-oriented protocol ensuring reliability; used in email, web.

What is UDP used for and how does it work?

Connectionless protocol with best-effort delivery; used in streaming/gaming.

Which is faster: TCP or UDP?

UDP is faster but less reliable.

Classify this IP address: 192.168.1.225

Class C.

Is this IP valid? 152.8.214.265

No - 265 is not a valid octet.

Classify this IP address: 67.55.120.110

Class A.

What is a port and give an example?

A 16-bit number identifying services; e.g., HTTP is port 80.

What is SSL and which port does it use?

Encrypts web traffic; uses port 443.

What is NAT?

Allows multiple private IPs to share a single public IP, conserving space and enhancing security.

What's the difference between circuit switching and packet switching?

Circuit: sets up path before sending data (like a phone call); Packet: breaks data into chunks sent individually (like email).

What do IEEE 802 standards define?

Wireless communication frameworks (e.g., 802.11 for WLAN, 802.15 for WPAN, 802.16 for WMAN).