CSCI: Networking
PAN (Personal Area Network)
A network designed for communication among devices for one person
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
A network designed to provide access to a larger geographical area like a city
LAN (Local Area Network)
A network where the nodes are located in a small geographical area (computer lab at school, house)
Coaxial cable
A single copper wire surrounded by layers of plastic and copper mesh, used to connect cable TV, more expensive, less interference
HAN (Home Area Network )
A specific type of LAN at your home
Mesh Topology
Every node is connected to every other node, data can be going between different nodes at the same time, expensive because of the amount of cable needed
WAN (Wide Area Network)
Spans a large physical distance, a collection of LAN's, the internet is the largest WAN
Router
Splits the connect given to is by the modem so that multiple users can connect
Bandwith
The max speed that data can be transmitted between nodes in a network
Twisted pair cable
copper wires twisted around each other, Used for telephones
Throughput
Actual speed of the data transmission that is achieved
Bus Topology
All computers are connected on a sequence on a single cable, less used, data collisions are common, minimal cable, many nodes slows down network
Ring Topology
Computers connected along a ring, uses a token to avoid collisions, no collisions, failure of one node brings down whole network, security is bad
Modem
Converts the internet signal coming in from the cable into a signal that your computer can understand and vice versa when sending out data
Point to Point Topology
Data travels from one node to another, very simple, fast, no interference
Star topology
Nodes all connect to a switch, data first goes to switch then switch directs data where to go, easy to add nodes, requires more cable, if switch fails system goes down
Tree Topology
Nodes are connected to a central node directly or indirectly, has hierarchy, easy to add nodes, if one goes down the others don't, can be hard to maintain as it grows
Fiber-optic cable
Plastic or glass fibers transmit data, most expensive, more fragile, works best, used as the network backbone