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Flashcards by Malachy Moran-Tun, updated more than 1 year ago
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| Question | Answer |
| What is a Switch? | > Connects several devices to form a wired network > Each node has a unique MAC address (Media Access Control) > When data is sent on the network, it includes the sender and recipient MAC address > The switch knows which device the MAC address relates to, so data is sent to the intended destination only |
| What is a Router? | > Piece of hardware which connects networks together > Works using IP addresses > Inspects each IP address and determines if it belongs to the local network it is attached to > If not, the data is sent to the connected WAN |
| What is a Wireless Access Point? | > Piece of hardware that connects to a switch > Allows WiFi devices to connect to the network > Broadcasts an SSID (network name), so that devices know which network to join > WAPs can create a security risk if encryption and authentication is not top priority |
| What is a NIC? | > Network Interface Controller > Provides a connection between the device and network > Can have an RJ45 port, or radio transmitter / receiver to connect (i.e., wired or wireless) > In computers, most NICs are directly built-in to the motherboard |
| What is a Fibre-Optic Cable? | > Thin strands of glass which transmits binary data as pulses of light > Due to the speed of light, has a very high bandwidth (upwards of 100 Tb/s) > Do not suffer interference, meaning they are appropriate for long distance communication (including intercontinental cabling) |
| What is a Coaxial Cable? | > Wired transmission media > Insulated copper wire surrounded by a metal mesh to protect from interference > Often used for cable TV |
| What is a Twisted-Pair Copper Cable? | > Often referred to as "Ethernet cable" > Eight wires twisted into pairs, which reduces interference from other signals and improves transmission speed > Cables have different ratings to indicate transmission speed, e.g., Cat-5e at 1 Gbps, Cat-6 at 10Gbps |
| What are Radio Waves? | > Transmission media of wireless networking, e.g., WiFi and Bluetooth > Amplitude (strength) decreases as it moves further away from its transmitter (which is why signal strength degrades) > Other radio signals of similar frequency can cause interference > WAPs check for frequency channels that are least congested before starting a broadcast |
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