Networking Concepts

What is the definition of networking?

Refers to the interconnection of computers for sharing resources and data.

What is the primary medium used in an Ethernet network?

Twisted pair copper cables and optical fiber.

What speed range is typical for Ethernet networks?

Ethernet networks range from 100 MB/s to 10 GB/s.

What topology does an Ethernet network implement?

Star topology.

What protocol does Ethernet use to manage data transmission?

CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection).

What are TCP and IP in networking?

The standard model for internet communications.

What does UDP stand for and what is its advantage?

User Datagram Protocol; it offers faster transmissions with no error checking.

What is the function of the Internet Protocol (IP)?

Handles addressing and routing data between hosts.

What are routing tables used for?

Lists of networks used by routers to direct traffic.

What is the difference between interior and exterior routing?

Interior routing occurs within an organization, while exterior routing occurs between organizations.

What tools can be used for monitoring network traffic?

Wireshark and nmap.

What is the purpose of the Domain Name System (DNS)?

Translates human-friendly domain names into IP addresses.

What does DHCP stand for and what is its function?

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol; it automatically assigns IP addresses to devices on a network.

What is a Denial of Service (DoS) attack?

Flooding a network to make it unavailable.

What is Cache Poisoning?

Corrupts DNS cache to redirect users.

What are some defense strategies against network attacks?

Use of firewalls and gateways to secure networks; implementation of encryption techniques.

What happens when two hosts transmit simultaneously in Ethernet?

It leads to collisions, requiring a retransmit.

What information is contained in an Ethernet packet header?

MAC address, packet type, data field, and CRC for error checking.

What are port numbers used for in TCP and UDP?

Directing traffic to specific applications.

What is Network Address Translation (NAT)?

Converts private addresses to public addresses to enable internet connectivity.

What is the format of an IP address?

Typically in dotted decimal, with 32-bit IPv4 becoming scarce; IPv6 is the next iteration with longer addresses.