Computer Networks

What is a MAC address

unique identifier for a device's network interface card (NIC)

What is Carrier Sense Multiple Access?

controls when devices can safely transmit data over a shared network medium.

What do transmitting computers do to detect a collision?

Wait brief random period of time before retransmission

What is an exponential backoff?

exponentially increasing wait time used to detect collisions before attempting transmission again.

What uses exponential backoff?

ethernet and wifi, transmission protocols

What is the collision domain?

network area where simultaneous device transmissions can cause data collisions.

What is a switch?

hardware device that connects multiple devices in a network and enables communication between them

What is circuit switching?

establishing dedicated path between two devices for the entire communication

What is message switching?

transmits whole messages via intermediate nodes that store and forward them

What is a hop count?

number of hops message takes along a route. high hop = routing problem

What is a hop limit?

how many hops a packet can make before being discarded

What is a packet?

small segment of data transmitted over a network

What is packet switching?

sends data in independent packets, reassembled at the destination

What is Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)?

used for error reporting and network diagnostics

What is Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)?

Rules for optimal internet data routing