Networks and layers Flashcards

Local Area Network: covers a small geographical area, such as a home or school, using internal hardware.

Wide Area Network: covers a large geographical area, connecting LANs, often using external hardware like leased lines.

Includes bandwidth, number of devices, and network hardware quality.

A network where a server provides services to connected clients, such as file storage or authentication.

A network where devices share resources directly without a central server.

A device that connects networks and routes data between them.

A device that connects devices within a LAN and directs data to the correct destination.

Network Interface Card: hardware that allows a device to connect to a network.

The physical or wireless means of transferring data, e.g., Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi.

Domain Name System: translates URLs into IP addresses to locate resources on the Internet.

Providing services such as websites or data storage on servers accessible via the Internet.

Using remote servers to store, manage, and process data, accessible via the Internet.

A network topology where all devices connect to a central hub or switch. Advantages: easy to add devices, reliable. Disadvantages: hub failure affects the whole network.

A network topology where devices are interconnected. Advantages: redundancy and reliability. Disadvantages: complex and expensive.

Wired networks (e.g., Ethernet) are faster and more secure. Wireless networks (e.g., Wi-Fi) are more convenient but can be less reliable.

Scrambling data to protect it from unauthorised access.

A unique identifier for a device on a network, formatted as IPv4 or IPv6.

A hardware identifier unique to a device's network interface card, used for communication within a LAN.

Agreed rules that ensure interoperability between devices and systems.

A suite of protocols for routing and reliable delivery of data across networks.

Protocols for transferring web pages. HTTPS adds encryption for security.

File Transfer Protocol: used for transferring files between devices on a network.

Email protocols: POP retrieves emails, IMAP manages emails on the server, SMTP sends emails.

Layers divide network functions into manageable parts, e.g., application, transport, network, and data link layers.

Simplifies development, ensures interoperability, and allows updates to individual layers without affecting others.