Networking (Computer Assignment)
Networking (Computer Assignment)
Networking(COSC205)
3. A router is a device that connects devices to a network and sends data between
them. Routers are a key part of internet connectivity and are often used in homes
and businesses.
9. In networking, "LAN" stands for "Local Area Network," which refers to a group
of devices, like computers, printers, and servers that are connected together
within a single physical location, like an office building or home allowing them
to share data and resources with each other easily; essentially, a localized
network where devices are physically close together.
10. In networking, "WAN" stands for "Wide Area Network," which refers to a
network that spans a large geographical area, connecting multiple smaller
networks like Local Area Networks (LANs) across different locations, allowing
devices in various cities or countries to communicate and share information as if
they were on the same local network; essentially, a network of networks covering
a wide area like a whole country or even the world.
11. A VPN, which stands for "Virtual Private Network," is a technology that creates
a secure, encrypted connection over the internet, allowing users to transmit data
privately and securely by masking their IP address and encrypting their online
traffic, essentially creating a "tunnel" between their device and a remote server,
protecting their online activity from unauthorized access on public networks.
12. A firewall in networking is a security device that monitors and controls incoming
and outgoing network traffic, acting as a barrier between a trusted internal
network and an untrusted external network like the internet, by filtering data
based on pre-defined security rules to prevent unauthorized access and malicious
activity from entering or leaving the network; essentially acting as a gatekeeper
to control what data can pass through.
13. The OSI Model, which stands for "Open Systems Interconnection" model, is a conceptual
framework that divides network communication into seven distinct layers, providing a
standardized way to understand how different computer systems can communicate with
each other across a network, enabling interoperability between various devices and
software by defining specific functions for each layer; essentially acting as a blueprint for
network communication.
Purpose: To provide a common language for understanding how data is transmitted across a
network, allowing diverse systems to communicate effectively
The seven layers of the OSI Model are:
Application Layer: User interface layer, interacting directly with applications like email, web
browsing
Transport Layer: Ensures reliable data delivery by managing error detection and flow control
Data Link Layer: Error detection and correction within a local network
Physical Layer: Transmission of raw data bits over the physical medium like cables
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14. A MAC address (Media Access Control address) is a unique identifier assigned
to a network device, essentially acting as its "hardware address" that allows it to
be recognized on a local network, and is used to route data packets to the correct
destination within a network; it's essentially like a physical address for a device
on a network, permanently burned into its network interface card (NIC) by the
manufacturer.
16. UDP stands for "User Datagram Protocol" and is a communication protocol used
in networking that prioritizes fast data transmission by sending packets without
establishing a connection beforehand, making it ideal for time-sensitive
applications like online gaming, video streaming, and DNS lookups, even if it
means potentially losing some data packets during transmission; essentially, it
prioritizes speed over guaranteed delivery.
17. In networking, HTTP stands for "Hypertext Transfer Protocol," which is a set of
rules that govern how information is transmitted between a web browser (client)
and a web server, essentially enabling the loading of web pages on the internet
by sending requests and receiving responses; it is the foundation of the World
Wide Web and is considered one of the most fundamental protocols used online
today.
18. HTTPS, which stands for "Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure," is a secure
version of the HTTP protocol used to transfer data between a web browser and a
website, essentially encrypting all data transmitted to protect sensitive
information like login credentials from being intercepted by unauthorized
parties; it is considered the standard for secure web communication, indicated by
a padlock icon in the browser address bar when a website is accessed using
HTTPS.
19. FTP stands for "File Transfer Protocol," which is a standard network protocol
used to transfer files between computers over a TCP/IP network, like the
internet; essentially, it's a set of rules that allows devices to send and receive files
from one another on a network.
20. SFTP stands for "Secure File Transfer Protocol," which is a network protocol
used to securely transfer files between computers by leveraging the encryption
capabilities of Secure Shell (SSH), providing a highly protected method for
sending and receiving data compared to traditional FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
21. SMTP stands for "Simple Mail Transfer Protocol," which is a networking
protocol used to send and receive email messages over the internet; essentially,
it's the standard way for email clients to deliver messages to a mail server,
allowing emails to be transferred between different email providers across the
network.
22. POP3, which stands for "Post Office Protocol 3," is a widely used internet
protocol that allows email clients to retrieve emails from a remote mail server
and download them to a user's local device, essentially enabling users to access
their emails on their computer by downloading them from the server; it's
considered the most common way to receive emails over the internet.
23. IMAP, which stands for "Internet Message Access Protocol," is a networking
protocol used to access and manage email messages stored on a remote server,
allowing users to view and manipulate their emails from multiple devices as if
they were stored locally on their computer, with the key feature being the ability
to access and manage emails across different devices without downloading them
all to a single device; essentially, it lets you "sync" your email across various
platforms.
24. ICMP stands for "Internet Control Message Protocol" and is a network layer
protocol used by devices like routers to send error messages and operational
information about network communication, essentially acting as a way to
diagnose network issues and report errors when data transmission
fails; commonly used in tools like "ping" and "traceroute" to test network
connectivity and path analysis.
26. In networking, "ping" refers to a utility used to test the connectivity between two
devices on a network by sending a small data packet (called an "echo request")
and measuring the time it takes to receive a response (an "echo reply") from the
destination device, essentially indicating whether the device is reachable and how
long it takes to communicate with it; the term "ping" is derived from the sound
of sonar, as it mimics the process of sending out a signal and waiting for an echo
back.
27. In networking, "Traceroute" is a diagnostic tool that maps out the path a data
packet takes when traveling from one network device to another, essentially
showing each "hop" or router it passes through on its way to the destination,
allowing network administrators to identify potential bottlenecks or issues along
the route by measuring the time it takes for the packet to reach each hop.
28. BGP stands for "Border Gateway Protocol" and is a routing protocol used on the
internet to determine the most efficient paths for data transmission between
different autonomous systems (AS), essentially acting as the "GPS" of the
internet by directing data packets across various networks to reach their
destination effectively; it allows networks to exchange reachability information
with each other, enabling efficient routing across the internet.
29. EIGRP stands for "Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol," which is a
network protocol developed by Cisco that enables routers to efficiently exchange
routing information, allowing for faster convergence and more reliable data
routing within a network; it is considered an advanced distance-vector routing
protocol known for its ease of deployment and rapid response to network
changes.
30. OSPF, which stands for "Open Shortest Path First," is a dynamic routing protocol
used in IP networks to determine the most efficient path for data packets to travel
between routers by calculating the shortest path based on factors like link
bandwidth and cost, effectively creating a network topology map for optimal
routing across a network; it is considered a link-state routing protocol and is
widely used for its scalability and fast convergence in large networks.
31. OSPF, which stands for "Open Shortest Path First," is a dynamic routing protocol
used in IP networks to determine the most efficient path for data packets to travel
between routers by calculating the shortest path based on factors like link
bandwidth and cost, effectively creating a network topology map for optimal
routing across a network; it is considered a link-state routing protocol and is
widely used for its scalability and fast convergence in large networks.
32. In networking, NAT stands for "Network Address Translation," which is a
method that allows multiple devices on a private network to access the internet
using a single public IP address by translating their private IP addresses to that
public address before sending data to the internet; essentially, it hides the internal
network's private IP addresses from the public network, conserving public IP
addresses and providing a layer of security.
33. In networking, PAT stands for "Port Address Translation," which is a type of
Network Address Translation (NAT) that allows multiple devices on a private
network to share a single public IP address by utilizing different port numbers to
distinguish between traffic from each device, effectively conserving public IP
addresses; it's also often called "NAT overload.".
34. In networking, "QoS" stands for "Quality of Service," which refers to a set of
technologies used to manage network traffic by prioritizing specific types of data
to ensure critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth and perform
optimally, even under limited network capacity; essentially, it controls how
network resources are allocated to different traffic types, minimizing issues like
packet loss, latency, and jitter for time-sensitive applications like voice and video
calls.
37. Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax, is the latest generation of Wi-Fi technology,
offering significant improvements in speed, efficiency, and capacity compared to
previous standards, particularly when dealing with a large number of connected
devices in a network, making it ideal for dense environments like smart homes
or offices; it essentially builds upon the strengths of earlier Wi-Fi standards while
adding better scalability and flexibility to handle increased demand for wireless
connectivity.
38. In networking, "5G" stands for "fifth generation" and refers to the latest
generation of cellular network technology, offering significantly faster speeds,
lower latency, and the ability to connect a larger number of devices
simultaneously compared to previous generations like 4G; essentially providing
a more efficient and robust wireless connection for mobile devices and the
internet of things (IoT) applications.
39. LTE stands for "Long Term Evolution" and is a mobile communication standard
used primarily in 4G networks, providing faster data speeds and improved
network capacity compared to older technologies like 3G, essentially meaning
it's a way to significantly enhance mobile internet access on smartphones and
other devices; often referred to as "4G LTE" on phones.
40. A fiber optic cable in networking is a type of cable that transmits data as pulses
of light through thin strands of glass, allowing for high-speed data transmission
over long distances with minimal signal loss, commonly used for internet,
telecommunications, and high-bandwidth applications due to its superior speed
compared to traditional copper wires; essentially, it carries data in the form of
light instead of electricity.
41. In networking, a coaxial cable, often shortened to "coax," is a type of electrical cable that
uses a central copper conductor surrounded by an insulating layer, a metallic shield, and an
outer protective jacket, allowing for efficient transmission of high-frequency signals with
minimal interference, commonly used for cable television and broadband internet
connections due to its shielding capabilities; the term "coaxial" refers to the shared axis of
the inner conductor and outer shield, ensuring precise conductor spacing.
Structure:
A central copper wire (inner conductor) is surrounded by an insulating layer, then a metallic
braid or shield (outer conductor), and finally an outer protective jacket.
Benefits:
Excellent signal integrity, minimal interference due to shielding, suitable for high-frequency
signals.
Applications:
Primarily used for cable television, broadband internet, and some older network applications.
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42. A "twisted pair cable" in networking is a type of cable where two insulated
copper wires are twisted together, creating pairs, which helps to minimize
electromagnetic interference (EMI) and crosstalk, allowing for cleaner signal
transmission and is commonly used for telephone lines and Ethernet connections
within a local area network (LAN).
43. A "twisted pair cable" in networking is a type of cable where two insulated
copper wires are twisted together, creating pairs, which helps to minimize
electromagnetic interference (EMI) and crosstalk, allowing for cleaner signal
transmission and is commonly used for telephone lines and Ethernet connections
within a local area network (LAN).
46. In networking, a "star topology" refers to a network design where all devices (like
computers, printers, servers) are connected to a central hub or switch, acting as a
single point of communication, with each device having a dedicated connection
to the hub, similar to the spokes of a star radiating from its center; this
arrangement allows for easy management and isolation of faults, making it a
common network structure.
47. A bus topology in networking refers to a network layout where all devices are
connected to a single cable, called a "bus," which acts as a shared communication
medium, allowing every device on the network to receive the same signal
simultaneously; essentially, data travels along this single cable to reach different
devices on the network, similar to how passengers board and exit at different
stops on a bus route.
48. In networking, a "ring topology" refers to a network design where devices are
connected in a circular loop, with each device linked to only two others, causing
data to travel in one direction around the ring until it reaches its
destination; essentially forming a closed pathway for data transmission where
each device acts as a repeater, passing data to the next node in the loop.
50. A peer-to-peer (P2P) network is a type of network where each connected device,
called a "peer," can act as both a client and a server, allowing them to directly
share resources with each other without relying on a central server to manage
data distribution; essentially, every device on the network can send and receive
information from other devices on the network simultaneously.
55. IPSec, which stands for "Internet Protocol Security," is a suite of protocols
designed to secure data transmitted over IP networks by encrypting and
authenticating each IP packet, essentially creating a secure tunnel for data
transmission, commonly used in Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to protect
sensitive information across public networks.
56. In networking, SSL/TLS stands for "Secure Sockets Layer" and "Transport Layer
Security," which are cryptographic protocols used to encrypt data transmitted
between two devices over a network, essentially creating a secure connection to
protect sensitive information like login credentials and financial details when
browsing websites or transferring data online; "TLS" is considered the more
modern and secure version of "SSL" and is widely used today to ensure secure
communication on the internet.
58. A proxy server in networking acts as an intermediary between a user and the
internet, essentially acting as a "middleman" that routes internet traffic by
receiving requests from a user's device and then forwarding them to the intended
server on the internet, while also managing the responses that come back; this
allows for features like increased security, traffic filtering, and potentially hiding
the user's IP address from the websites they visit.
59. In networking, IDS stands for "Intrusion Detection System," which is a security
tool that monitors network traffic and devices to identify potential threats,
suspicious activities, or security policy violations, alerting administrators when
it detects something concerning without necessarily blocking the traffic
itself; essentially acting as a "watchdog" for the network.
60. In networking, IPS stands for "Intrusion Prevention System," which is a security
tool that actively monitors network traffic for malicious activity and takes
immediate action to block or mitigate potential threats, essentially acting as a
defense mechanism against cyber attacks by preventing them from reaching the
network in real time.
61. In networking, SIEM stands for "Security Information and Event Management,"
which refers to a system that collects, analyzes, and correlates security-related
data from various sources across an IT environment to detect potential security
threats and enable faster incident response by providing a centralized view of
security events and anomalies; essentially, it combines Security Information
Management (SIM) and Security Event Management (SEM) functions into one
platform to improve threat detection and compliance management.
67. RARP stands for "Reverse Address Resolution Protocol" and is a network
protocol that allows a device to discover its IP address by sending its MAC
address to a dedicated server on the network, essentially doing the opposite of
the standard Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) which translates IP addresses to
MAC addresses; today, RARP is considered largely obsolete as newer protocols
like DHCP handle IP address allocation more efficiently.
68. In networking, IGMP stands for "Internet Group Management Protocol," which
is a communication protocol used by devices on a network to manage their
membership in multicast groups, essentially allowing them to join or leave
specific multicast streams and ensuring that only interested devices receive the
multicast data, optimizing network bandwidth usage; it's primarily used for
applications like streaming video and online gaming where data needs to be sent
to multiple recipients simultaneously.
71. Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is a network protocol that prevents loops in a
network by identifying and disabling redundant paths between switches, ensuring
that data only travels along a single active path between any two devices on a
network, thus avoiding broadcast storms and maintaining network stability; it
operates at Layer 2 of the OSI model and is standardized under IEEE 802.1D.
77. IPv4 stands for "Internet Protocol version 4," which is the fourth version of the
standard protocol used to route internet traffic across networks, essentially acting
as the underlying technology that allows devices to connect to the web by
assigning unique IP addresses to each device; it is still widely used today, even
with the newer IPv6 version available.
78. In networking, IPv6 stands for "Internet Protocol version 6," which is the latest
version of the Internet Protocol (IP) used to identify and locate devices on a
network, allowing them to communicate with each other across the
internet; essentially, it's the successor to IPv4 and offers a significantly larger
pool of available IP addresses due to its 128-bit address structure compared to
IPv4's 32-bit address space.
79. IPv4 subnetting is the process of dividing a single IP network into smaller, more
manageable subnetworks (called subnets) by manipulating the bits within an IPv4
address, allowing for efficient allocation of IP addresses and improved network
organization by logically separating different network segments within a larger
network; essentially, it's a way to create smaller networks within a larger network
using the existing IP address space more effectively.
80. IPv6 subnetting refers to the process of dividing a large IPv6 address space into
smaller, more manageable network segments by utilizing a prefix length notation,
essentially creating multiple subnetworks within a larger network, allowing for
better network organization and efficient allocation of IP addresses; unlike IPv4,
IPv6 subnetting is simplified due to its vast address space, making it easier to
create subnets without complex calculations by simply specifying the desired
prefix length in the address itself.
81. In networking, "tunneling" refers to a technique where data from one network is
encapsulated within another packet, allowing it to be transmitted over a different
network, often a public network like the internet, while maintaining privacy and
security, commonly used in Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to create secure
connections over less secure networks.
82. WPA, which stands for "Wi-Fi Protected Access," is a wireless network security
standard designed to protect data transmitted over a Wi-Fi connection by
encrypting information and authenticating users, essentially providing a more
secure alternative to the older WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) protocol; it was
developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to improve wireless network security.
83. WPA2, which stands for "Wi-Fi Protected Access 2", is a security protocol used
on wireless networks to encrypt data transmitted over the air, ensuring only
authorized users can access the network and protecting sensitive information by
utilizing strong encryption standards like AES (Advanced Encryption
Standard); it is considered the standard for wireless network security and is an
upgrade from the earlier WPA protocol, offering better data protection and access
control.
84. WPA3, which stands for "Wi-Fi Protected Access 3," is the latest security standard
developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, designed to significantly improve the security
of wireless networks by providing enhanced authentication methods and stronger
encryption compared to its predecessor, WPA2, making it the most secure option
for Wi-Fi connections today.
87. A RADIUS server, which stands for "Remote Authentication Dial-In User
Service" server, is a central network server that authenticates users and
authorizes their access to a network by verifying their credentials against a central
database, essentially acting as a security guard that controls who can access the
network and what level of access they have; it is commonly used for managing
user access to wireless networks, VPNs, and other network services.
88. A TACACS server, which stands for "Terminal Access Controller Access
Control System" server, is a centralized network server that manages user
authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) for network devices like
routers, switches, and firewalls, essentially verifying user credentials and
determining their access level before allowing them to interact with network
equipment; it is primarily used to control and monitor user access to network
devices from a single point of management.
93. Network segmentation is the practice of dividing a larger computer network into
smaller, separate subnetworks, allowing for more granular control over traffic
flow between different parts of the network, ultimately improving security and
performance by isolating sensitive data and restricting unauthorized access
between segments.
94. A "network sniffer," also called a packet analyzer, is a software or hardware tool
that captures and analyzes data packets traveling across a network, allowing
administrators to monitor network traffic and identify potential issues by
examining the details of each packet as it passes through the network; essentially,
it "sniffs" the network to see what data is being transmitted.
96. In networking, "throughput" refers to the actual rate at which data is successfully
transferred from one point to another over a network connection, essentially
measuring how much data can be moved through a network within a specific time
period, usually measured in bits per second (bps) and reflecting the real data
transfer rate rather than the theoretical maximum capacity (bandwidth).
97. In networking, "bandwidth" refers to the maximum amount of data that can be
transmitted over a network connection within a specific period of time,
essentially representing the capacity of a network to handle data flow, often
measured in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps).
98. n networking, "latency" refers to the time it takes for data to travel from one point
on a network to another, essentially measuring the delay between sending and
receiving data packets; a low latency indicates a fast response time, while high
latency means a noticeable delay in data transmission.
99. In networking, "jitter" refers to the inconsistency in the time it takes for data
packets to arrive at their destination, essentially measuring the variation in
latency over time; meaning packets might arrive at uneven intervals, causing
issues particularly in real-time applications like video calls and online gaming
where consistent data flow is crucial.
100. In networking, "Round Trip Time" (RTT) refers to the total time it takes for
a data packet to travel from a source device to a destination and then back again
to the source, essentially measuring the time taken to send a request and receive
a response from a remote server; it's a key metric for determining network latency
and the responsiveness of a connection, usually measured in milliseconds (ms).