Key Concepts
- 1What are the four main types of computer networks based on geographical area?
- 2What is the difference between TCP and IP in the TCP/IP protocol suite?
- 3Name any five network devices and their primary functions.
Important Formulas & Facts
PAN (Personal Area Network) — few metres; LAN (Local Area Network) — building/campus; MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) — city; WAN (Wide Area Network) — country/world. The Internet is the largest WAN.
IP (Internet Protocol) handles addressing and routing — it ensures the data packet reaches the correct destination machine. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) handles reliable delivery — it breaks data into packets, ensures they arrive in order, and requests retransmission of lost packets.
Hub: broadcasts data to all devices. Switch: sends data only to the intended device using MAC addresses. Router: routes data between different networks using IP addresses. Modem: converts digital signals to analogue and vice versa. Firewall: monitors and filters network traffic for security.
Must-Know Questions
Q1Which type of network covers the smallest geographical area?
PAN (Personal Area Network) covers the smallest area, typically within a range of a few meters around an individual. Examples include Bluetooth connections between devices.
Q2Which network topology connects all devices to a single central cable?
Bus topology uses a single central cable (backbone) to which all network devices are connected. Data travels along the cable and is received by all devices, but only the intended recipient processes it.
Q3Which device is used to connect two different networks and route data packets between them?
A router is a networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks. It reads the destination IP address in each packet and determines the best path to route it to the destination network.
Q4What does the acronym TCP/IP stand for?
TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol. It is the foundational suite of communication protocols used for interconnecting network devices on the internet.
Q5In a star topology, if the central hub fails, what happens?
In a star topology, all nodes are connected to a central hub or switch. If the central device fails, the entire network goes down because all communication passes through it. This is the main disadvantage of star topology.
Practice Networking
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