1 Networking Fundamentals and Architectures Free Online FlashCards

What is a computer network?

A computer network is a group of connected devices that exchange data using shared rules called protocols.

What area does a LAN typically serve?

A LAN connects devices within a limited area, such as a home, office, or campus.

How are services organized in a client-server architecture?

In a client-server architecture, clients request services from servers, such as when a browser requests a webpage.

What are the main roles of the TCP/IP layers?

In the TCP/IP model, applications create data, transport protocols carry it between applications, IP moves packets between networks, and link technologies deliver data across each local connection.

What does a network switch do?

A switch connects devices within a LAN and forwards Ethernet frames toward the appropriate local destination.

How do physical and logical topology differ?

Physical topology is the actual layout of devices and links; logical topology describes how data flows.

What happens during network encapsulation?

Encapsulation adds information as data moves down the layers: application data is carried in a transport segment or datagram, placed in an IP packet, then carried in a link-layer frame.

What is a host in networking?

Hosts are end-user devices, such as computers, phones, printers, and servers, that communicate over a network.

What does a WAN connect?

A WAN connects networks over larger distances; the Internet is a global network of interconnected networks.

What characterizes a peer-to-peer architecture?

In a peer-to-peer architecture, devices communicate or share resources directly without relying on one central server for every exchange.

What does a router do with an IP packet?

A router connects different IP networks and forwards packets toward the next network using destination IP addresses and routing information.

What happens when links or the central device fail in a star topology?

In a star topology, each endpoint connects to a central switch or hub. A central-device failure can affect many connections, while one endpoint-link failure usually affects only that endpoint.