Network hardware (1.3.3 d)

Question 1

Hardware

Answer 1

modem
router
cable
NIC
WAP
hub
switch

Question 2

Modem

Answer 2

transforms digital information from your computer into analogue signals that can be transmitted through wires
also translate incoming analogue signals back into digital data that your computer can understand
does this by modulating and demodulating electrical signals through phone lines coaxial cables or other types of wire
most standalone modems have only two parts one that connects to the outsode world and an ethernet port that connects to a computer or router

Question 3

Router

Answer 3

mainly responsible for for routing data between devices on a small home network and between devices on a network and the internet
a modem connects to one part of the router often labelled WAN your device connects to the other parts or wirelessly using the WIFI stand
not all modems include routers and not all routers include modems

Question 4

Types of cables

Answer 4

twisted pair
coaxial
fibre optic
two types of connecting devices wired and wireless

Question 5

Twisted pair - cables

Answer 5

made up of a pair of insulated copper wires
can be affected by noise from external magnetic fields
more affordable than coaxial and fibre optic cables
only able to provide low bandwidth
are generally used for telephone networks data networks and cable shielding

Question 6

Coaxial - cables

Answer 6

made up of four cylindrical components - (from inside to outside) a solid conductor wire a layer of insulation, a grounding conductor and a layer if exterior insulation
can be affected by noise from external magnetic fields but to a less extent than twisted pair
providing moderate bandwidth
more expensive than twisted pair but cheaper than fibre optic
used for feedlines that connect radio transmitters and recievers to antennas as well as computer network connections digital audio and cable television

Question 7

Fibre optic - cables

Answer 7

made up of very thin optical fibres bundled together into a single cable
fibres can be glass or plastic
highest noise immunity as the light rays are unaffected by electrical noise
high bandwidth
most expensive
commonly used to support long distance connections between cities and countries as well as data centres and organisations transmitting large volume of data

Question 8

NIC

Answer 8

network interface controller
without one a computer cant connect to a network
allows both wired and wireless communications between computers on a LAN or connected to a large scale network using the IP
both physical layer and data link layer device prodiving the necessary circuitry for physical layer processes and some data link layer processes to run on it

Question 9

WAP

Answer 9

wireless access point
a device that creates a WLAN usually in a home or office building
connects to a wired router switch or hub via a ethernet cable and projects a WIFI signal within a designated area
WIFI range is limited and easily interrupted by various construction materials so most businesses use multiple WAPs for full coverage

Question 10

Hub

Answer 10

allows you to connect multiple devices to one network
operates on the physical layer and is considered a passive device it simply broadcasts the transmissions it receives to all other connected devices
network can easily become flooded with unnecessary traffic
purely hardware device no software installed on it
typically much slower than switches in terms of data transfer

Question 11

Switch

Answer 11

allows you to connect multiple devices to one network
operates on the data link layer and is an active device meaning it can inspect transmissions and rout them to the correct device keeping unnecessary traffic to a minimum
typically has software installed on it for administration and configuration purposes
typically much faster than hubs in terms of data transfer