Computer Networks, Connections & Protocols

What is bandwidth?

What does LAN stand for, and give an example of where one might be found?

Which of the following is the best example of a WAN (Wide Area Network)?

What is a PAN (Personal Area Network) and give an example.

Which factor is the main difference between a LAN and a WAN?

Give one advantage and one disadvantage of a WAN compared to a LAN.

A school has computers connected together across its site, and also connects to the internet to access online resources. Which two types of network are involved?

Explain why a company with offices in multiple countries would need a WAN, not just several separate LANs.

Which of these is an example of a PAN rather than a LAN?

Order these network types from smallest to largest typical coverage area: LAN, PAN, WAN.

Describe the star network topology.

What is a key advantage of a star topology over a bus topology?

Describe the bus network topology and give one disadvantage.

In a mesh network topology, how are devices typically connected?

Give one advantage and one disadvantage of a mesh topology.

A network uses a central switch, with every device connected to it by its own cable. What topology is this?

Explain why a star topology is generally more expensive to install than a bus topology.

What happens to the rest of a star network if the central switch fails?

Why might a mesh topology be used for critical infrastructure, such as connecting servers in a data centre?

Compare star and bus topologies in terms of how easy it is to add a new device to the network.

What does a switch do?

What is a MAC address?

What is a NIC?

What is the main purpose of a router?

What does WAP stand for, and what is its purpose?

A device has no built-in network hardware. Which component must be added to allow it to connect to a network?

Explain the difference in role between a switch and a router.

A home Wi-Fi router often also acts as a switch and a wireless access point. What does the wireless access point part of it do?

Explain why every device that connects to a network — wired or wireless — needs a NIC.

A small office wants all its computers to access the internet via a single Wi-Fi connection, and also wants to share a printer locally. Which combination of hardware would best achieve this?

Describe the difference between a peer-to-peer and client-server network.

In a client-server network, what role does the server play?

Give ONE advantage of a client-server network over a peer-to-peer network for a business.

In a peer-to-peer network, how do computers typically interact?

Give ONE disadvantage of a peer-to-peer network compared to a client-server network.

A small home network where two laptops share files directly with each other, with no dedicated server, is an example of which model?

Explain why a client-server model is generally preferred for a large organisation with hundreds of employees.

What happens to a peer-to-peer network if one computer (peer) is switched off?

When you visit a website, your web browser acts as the client. What acts as the server?

Why might a client-server model be more vulnerable to a single point of failure than a peer-to-peer model?

What is a packet in networking?

What is the difference between TCP and IP?

Name the four layers of the TCP/IP model, in order from the application layer down to the link layer.

Which layer of the TCP/IP model is responsible for end-to-end connections, splitting data into segments, and ensuring reliable delivery?

What is the role of the internet layer in the TCP/IP model?

Which TCP/IP layer is closest to the user, and includes protocols such as HTTP and SMTP?

Explain the role of the link layer (also called the network access layer) in the TCP/IP model.

When sending an email, in which order do the TCP/IP layers process the data as it leaves the sender's computer?

Explain why data is broken down into smaller packets by the transport/internet layers before being sent across a network.

On the receiving computer, what must happen to packets arriving via the TCP/IP layers before the data can be used by an application?

What does HTTP stand for and what is it used for?

What does HTTPS provide that HTTP does not?

What is FTP used for?

What is SMTP used for?

What is the main difference between IMAP and POP3?

Which protocol would be used to retrieve incoming emails so they can be read on a mail client?

A user types a web address starting with "https://" into their browser. What does the "s" indicate?

A company website needs to allow users to upload large files to a server. Which protocol is most appropriate for this?

Explain why HTTPS is essential for websites that handle sensitive information, such as online banking.

Match each protocol to its main use: SMTP, FTP, HTTP. Uses: (a) transferring web pages, (b) sending emails, (c) transferring files.