A Level Computer Science Paper 1: 1.3.3 Networks Pt1
This flashcard set explains what a computer network is and explores both the benefits—such as collaboration and resource sharing—and the drawbacks, including dependence on connectivity and maintenance costs.
Network
Two or more devices connected together with the ability to transfer data between each other
Key Terms
Network
Two or more devices connected together with the ability to transfer data between each other
Network advantages
Allow for collaboration
Access information quicker
Allows for sharing resources
Allows streaming
Network disadvantages
Relies on connectivity/internet access
We can become dependent
Expensive to maintain
LAN
Local Area Network
A network where devices are geographically close to each other
WAN
Wide Area Network
A network where devices are connected across a large geographical area
MAN
Metropolitan Area Network
A network across one metropolitan area such as a city
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Network | Two or more devices connected together with the ability to transfer data between each other |
Network advantages | Allow for collaboration |
Network disadvantages | Relies on connectivity/internet access |
LAN | Local Area Network A network where devices are geographically close to each other |
WAN |
A network where devices are connected across a large geographical area |
MAN | Metropolitan Area Network A network across one metropolitan area such as a city |
PAN | Personal Area Network A network centred around one person’s workspace with connected devices |
SAN | Storage Area Network A network dedicated to sharing data across devices |
WPAN | Wireless Personal Area Network A personal network which is not connected by wires |
VPN | Virtual Private Network A network which allows users to access a private network from another location |
Coaxial copper cables | Single copper cables that need to be replaced from time to time as the insulation may degrade |
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) | Two copper cables twisted around each other |
Shielded Twisted Pair | Two copper cables twisted around each other with metal shielding to reduce interference |
Copper wire advantages | Cheap to install, can directly power telephones |
Copper wire disadvantages | Lower bandwidth, short lifetime |
Fibre-optic cables | Glass cables that use total internal reflection to transmit light signals |
Fibre optic cables advantages | Long lifetime, less electromagnetic interference, higher bandwidth |
Fibre optic cable disadvantages | Expensive to install |
Bus topology | A single backbone cable with passive nodes attached, there are two terminators at either end. Packets are sent to all nodes |
Bus Topology Advantages and Disadvantages | + easy and cheap - slow, less secure, if the main cable fails it all fails |
Ring Topology | All devices are connected in a closed loop, packets go in one direction through each device. A receiver sends an acknowledgment to the sender when a packet is received |
Ring Topology Advantages and Disadvantages | + less data collisions - if one cable fails the whole network fails, less secure, hard to add new nodes |
Star Topology | Used in LAN networks, each device is connected to a hub by a cable |
Star Topology Advantages and Disadvantages | + Fast, a cable failing only impacts the data through it - expensive to install, the central hub failing fails the whole network |
Full Mesh Topology | All devices are connected to each other and can send messages directly |
Partial Mesh Topology | A device is connected to all other devices but some devices may be connected in a different topolog |
Mesh Topology Advantages and Disadvantages |
| - expensive, difficult to maintain, impractical for wired networks |
Network Interface Card (NIC) | Converts data signals from a device to ones that can be transferred across a network |
Router | Forwards data packets between computer networks |
Gateway | Connects two networks that use different protocols |
Modem | Converts data from digital formats into electrical signals |
Hub | Broadcasts data from a device to all devices on its network |
Switches | Filter data packets and forward to a specific device |
Bridge | Connects two separate LAN networks together |
Wireless Access Point | A network hardware that allows wireless-specific devices to connect to a wired network |
Physical Topology | Defines how the devices are physically connected |
Logical Topology | Defines how the devices communicate across the physical topologies |
SSID | A 32-character locally unique code that identifies a network in Wi-Fi |
WPA2 | A protocol that encrypts data and ensures security on Wi-Fi networks |
DHCP | Dynamic Host Control Protocol | A protocol that allocates locally unique IP addresses to devices as they connect to a network |
VoIP | A protocol that allows us to make voice calls over the internet |