Network Fundamentals

Question 1

Clients

Answer 1

Devices that users use to access the network (e.g., workstations, laptops, tablets, smart phones)

Question 2

Servers

Answer 2

Provide resources to the network (e.g., email servers, file servers, web servers)

Question 3

Hubs

Answer 3

Older technology for connecting devices in a local area network, but less efficient due to broadcasting limitations.

Question 4

Switches

Answer 4

Smarter hubs that forward data only to intended recipients, enhancing security and efficient bandwidth utilization.

Question 5

Wireless Access Points (WAPs/APs)

Answer 5

Allow wireless devices to connect to wired networks using radio frequencies.

Question 6

Routers

Answer 6

Connect different networks and make intelligent forwarding decisions based on IP addresses

Question 7

Firewalls

Answer 7

Security barrier between internal network and the internet. Monitors and controls traffic.

Question 8

Load Balancers

Answer 8

devices or software that distribute network/application traffic across servers, preventing bottlenecks

Question 9

Proxy

Answer 9

Act as intermediaries between user devices and the internet, enhancing security and privacy

Question 10

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)

Answer 10

Detect unauthorized access or anomalies and alert administrators

Question 11

Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)

Answer 11

Detect and take action to prevent intrusion

Question 12

Controllers

Answer 12

Manage flow control in software-defined networking (SDN), offering flexibility and efficiency

Question 13

Network-Attached Storage (NAS)

Answer 13

Dedicated file storage systems providing data access to authorized clients

Question 14

Storage Area Networks (SAN)

Answer 14

High-speed networks for accessing large volumes of consolidated data storage, enhancing accessibility

Question 15

Media

Answer 15

Physical materials used for data transmission (e.g., copper cables, fiber optic cables, wireless signals)

Question 16

Wide Area Network (WAN) Links

Answer 16

Connect networks over large areas (e.g., between cities), essential for global connectivity

Question 17

Client/Server Model

Answer 17

Utilizes a dedicated server for centralized access to network resources (e.g., files, scanners, printers)

Administration and backup are easier

Leading in business networks

Question 18

Client/Server Model Pros

Answer 18

-Centralized administration
-Easier management
-Better scalability

Question 19

Client/Server Model Cons

Answer 19

-Costs more
-Requires dedicated OS
-Requires specialized skillset

Question 20

Peer-to-Peer Model

Answer 20

Direct sharing of resources among peers (e.g., laptops, desktops)

Difficult administration and backup due to dispersed files on different machines

Question 21

Peer-to-Peer Model Pros

Answer 21

-Lower cost
-No specialized infrastructure or hardware
-No dedicated resources

Question 22

Peer-to-Peer Model Cons

Answer 22

-Decentralized management
-Inefficient for large networks
-Poor scalability

Question 23

Personal Area Network (PAN)

Answer 23

Smallest type of wired or wireless network which usually covers a distance about 10 ft or less (e.g, Bluetooth, USB)

Question 24

Local Area Network (LAN)

Answer 24

Connects components in a limited distance, generally up to about 100 meters or 300 ft (e.g., office, school, home)

Question 25

Campus Area Network (CAN)

Answer 25

A building-centric LAN that is spread across numerous buildings in a certain area (e.g, college campuses, military bases, business parks)

Question 26

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

Answer 26

Connects locations that are scattered across the entire city (e.g., city departments, multiple campuses in a city) Larger than CAN, up to 25 miles

Question 27

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Answer 27

Connects geographically disparate internal networks (e.g., internet, private connections between offices across the country) Can consist of Lease Lines or VPNs

Question 28

Network Topology

Answer 28

Refers to the arrangement of different elements that make up a computer network (e.g., links, nodes, clients, servers)

Question 29

Physical Topology

Answer 29

Used to show how the network devices and components are physically cabled and connected together (e.g, real-world layout using floorplans)

Question 30

Logical Topology

Answer 30

Describes how data flows in the network Focuses on the logical connection rather than physical placement

Question 31

Point-to-Point Topology

Answer 31

Simplest form of network topology that involves a direct connection between 2 devices Not scalable, but reliable for small setups

Question 32

Ring Topology

Answer 32

Each device is connected to 2 other devices, forming a circular data path prevents data collisions due to unidirectional flow, but failure in 1 device can disrupt the entire network

Question 33

Bus Topology

Answer 33

All network devices are connected to a central cable, called the bus or backbone Easy to install, but can fail entirely if the main cable fails

Question 34

Star Topology

Answer 34

Each node connects to a central point (switch) Robust, as individual link failures don’t affect others. But if the central point fails, the entire network fails.

Question 35

Hub-and-Spoke Topology

Answer 35

Variation of the star topology where the central node (hub) is connected to multiple nodes (spokes) Nodes transmit data to the hub before reaching the final destination

Question 36

Mesh Topology

Answer 36

Point-to-point connections between every device, offering high redundancy Can be complex and costly due to number of cables/ports required Full mesh connections formula: x = n (n-1)/2 n= number of nodes

Question 37

Datacenter

Answer 37

Any facility composed of networked computers and storage that businesses and other organizations use to organize, process, store, and disseminate large amounts of data

Question 38

Three-Tiered Hierarchy

Answer 38

Core Layer: Backbone with high-capacity routers. Distribution Layer: Manages policies and routing between subnets. Access Layer: Connects endpoint devices. This structure enhances performance, management, scalability, and redundancy.

Question 39

Collapsed Core

Answer 39

Network architecture where the core and distribution layers are merged into a single layer For smaller datacenters, reducing costs and latency, but may limit scalability.

Question 40

Spine and Leaf Architecture

Answer 40

An alternative type of network architecture that is used specifically within datacenters Spine: Connects switches in a full mesh topology Leaf: Consists of all the access switches Focuses on communication within datacenters, particularly server farms

Question 41

Traffic Flows