Unit 4 - Computing Systems and Networks

What is a packet?

A packet contains the data to be sent and metadata regarding the source and destination.

Differentiate a computer system and a computer network.

A computer system is a group of computing devices working together for a joint purpose, while a computer network is a specific type of interconnected computer system capable of sending and receiving data.

Describe the process of packet switching.

The message to be sent is broken up into packets and sent in any order. Then, the recipient’s device reassembles these packets.

What is routing?

Routing is the process of finding a path from sender to receiver.

What is bandwidth?

Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be sent in a fixed amount of time, and is usually measured in bits per second.

What is a protocol?

A protocol is a set of rules that govern the behavior of a system.

Differentiate TCP and UCP.

TCP, or transmission control protocol, uses error checking and error recovery, increasing accuracy but decreasing speed. It’s commonly used in email and web browsing services. On the other hand, UCP, or user datagram protocol, simply deletes errors, thus decreasing accuracy and increasing speed. This is mainly used in music streaming services.

Differentiate HTTP and HTTPS.

HTTP determines methods of receiving data from web servers, which uses TCP. HTTPS is a more secure version of this.

Describe web servers.

Web servers are programs running on machines connected to the internet, and provides users with data linked to other web pages using URLs.

Describe the Domain Name Service.

DNS’s map IP addresses to URLs.