Topic 5 - Communication and the internet
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What is a Computer Network?
Connections between nodes (devices attached to the network) that allow data to be exchanged.
What is a Local Area Network (LAN) ?
A network that connects computers that are close to each other.
What are two examples of places that may use LAN?
• A house 2. A school
What is a Personal Area Network (PAN) ?
A network based around one person.
What are examples of devices used through PAN?
Laptop, phone, printer (all connected through wirelessly)
What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) ?
A private network extended across a public network.
Which two types of people might use VPNs and why?
• Employees - to access a company’s private network from external locations • General users - wanting to hide their browsing.
What is the name of the devices that enables a user to connect to a network?
Network Interface Card (NIC)
What is a NIC and what does it do?
It is a circuit board that connects to the motherboard and then to the network.
What is the unique identifier called that is manufactured in an NIC?
Media Access Control (MAC) Address
What three features does a MAC address contain?
• It’s 6 bytes long • The first half is the Manufacturer Code. • The second half is the Unique Device Code.
What is the main use of a MAC address?
Used through LANs and so do not give the indication of where the device is.
What is a host?
A computer connected to a network i.e. A server connects the computers in a network to provide the Internet
What is a domain name?
Refers to the network
What is a hostname?
A string of characters that uniquely identifies a computer
What two features does a web address contain?
• Hostname (e.g. thisisadham) • Domain name (e.g: .rataba.uk) thisisadham.rataba.uk
What are protocols?
Sets of rules for communication between connected machines
What is a network packet?
Small amount of data sent over to a computer network. When something is transmitted over a network, it is broken down in packets to be sent. At the final destination, the individual packets are reassembled.
What are the 4 layers of the Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) ?
• Application Layer • Transport Layer • Network Layer • Link Layer
What does the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) do?
Provides reliable and ordered transfer of data between two devices.
What does the Internet Protocol (IP) do?
Specifies the structure of packets and defines addressing.
What is an alternative method to packet switching (sending data in packets) ?
Circuit switching
What is circuit switching?
Where a single circuit is established and a steady stream is sent.
What are three layers within the structure of a packet?
• Header • Body • Trailer