Computer Network and Web Technology

What is a computer network?

A group of two or more computers linked together to share resources and communicate.

What resources can be shared on a network?

Hardware

What are the main types of networks?

LAN

What is a LAN?

A Local Area Network connects computers within a small area like a school or office.

How are computers connected in a LAN?

By cables or wireless links.

State one benefit of a LAN.

Hardware such as printers can be shared.

State another benefit of a LAN.

Software and data files can be shared.

Why is software cheaper on a LAN?

One license can be shared among multiple users.

State one disadvantage of a LAN.

High initial setup cost.

Why are viruses a risk on a LAN?

They can spread easily between connected computers.

What happens if a file server fails on a LAN?

All connected workstations are affected.

What is a WAN?

A Wide Area Network connects computers across large geographic areas.

Give examples of WAN usage.

Universities

What transmission media are used in WANs?

Telephone lines

What is a MAN?

A Metropolitan Area Network connects LANs within a city or town.

Who usually manages a MAN?

A single network provider.

What is a mobile network?

A wireless communication network using cell sites.

What is cellular radio?

A broadcast radio system used for mobile communication.

What was a feature of 1G networks?

Analog voice calls only.

State one weakness of 1G networks.

Poor security and signal interference.

What improvement did 2G introduce?

Digital signals and SMS text messaging.

What standard is associated with 2G?

GSM.

What new features came with 3G?

Video calls

What organization standardized 3G?

3GPP.

What is UMTS?

A widely used 3G mobile system.

How fast is 4G compared to 3G?

Up to five times faster.

State one benefit of 4G.

Faster downloads and better streaming.

What is the main promise of 5G?

Higher speed and support for IoT.

Give an example of 5G applications.

Smart cities

What is an intranet?

A private internal network within an organization.

Who can access an intranet?

Authorized users only.

What is an extranet?

An intranet with limited access for external users.

Give an example use of an extranet.

Providing customer technical support.

What is the Internet?

A global network of interconnected networks.

Does the Internet have a central authority?

No.

State one advantage of the Internet.

Access to vast information.

State one disadvantage of the Internet.

Risk of viruses and hackers.

What is needed for Internet access?

Computer

What is a modem?

A device that converts digital data to analog and back.

Why is a modem needed?

Telephone lines transmit analog signals only.

Name types of modems.

ADSL

What is an ISP?

A company that provides Internet access.

What is a router?

A device that connects different networks.

At which OSI layer does a router operate?

Layer 3 (Network layer).

What is a switch?

A device that connects devices within a network.

What address does a switch use?

MAC address.

At which OSI layer does a switch operate?

Layer 2 (Data Link layer).

What is a NIC?

A Network Interface Card that connects a computer to a network.

What does a NIC do?

Controls data transmission and reception.

What is TCP/IP?

A set of protocols for Internet communication.

What is a protocol?

A set of rules for communication.

Why is TCP/IP important?

It allows different systems to communicate.

What is a web browser?

Software used to access and view web pages.

Give examples of browsers.

Chrome

What can you do with a browser?

Browse

What is data communication?

The transmission of data between devices.

What is bandwidth?

The volume of data transmitted per time unit.

What is narrowband?

Slow data transmission (10–30 cps).

What is voice-band?

Medium speed transmission (telephone lines).

What is broadband?

High-speed data transmission.

What is transmission media?

The means used to transfer data.

Name wired transmission media.

Twisted pair

Which cable is fastest?

Fibre optic cable.

Name wireless transmission media.

Satellite

What is a communication satellite?

A space station that relays signals.

What are microwaves?

High-speed radio wave transmissions.

What is infrared used for?

Short-range wireless communication.

What is a hotspot?

A wireless Internet access point.

What is Bluetooth?

A short-range wireless communication standard.

What is Wi-Fi?

Wireless broadband Internet using radio waves.

What is simplex communication?

One-way data transmission.

What is half-duplex communication?

Two-way but not simultaneous transmission.

What is full-duplex communication?

Simultaneous two-way transmission.

What is the World Wide Web?

A collection of linked web pages.

What is a web page?

An HTML document on the WWW.

What is HTML?

A markup language for web pages.

What is a hyperlink?

A clickable link to another web location.

What is a website?

A collection of related web pages.

What is a web server?

A computer that delivers web pages.

What is a URL?

The unique address of a web resource.

What does .com represent?

Commercial organizations.

What does .edu represent?

Educational institutions.

What is FTP?

A protocol for transferring files.

What does upload mean?

Sending data from your computer.

What does download mean?

Receiving data to your computer.

What is HTTP?

A protocol for transferring web pages.

What is e-mail?

Electronic messaging service.

State one benefit of e-mail.

Fast and low cost communication.