2.2 Compare and contrast common networking hardware devices Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in 2.2 Compare and contrast common networking hardware devices Deck (14)
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1
Q

What is a NIC?

A

Network Interface Card

  • Fundamental network device.
  • Every device on the network has a NIC

Ethernet network = Ethernet NIC

2
Q

What is a Repeater?

A

Extends a network

  • Receives a signal, regenerates it, and then resends that signal out another interface
  • Repeater only repeats it out a single interface

No forwarding decisions to make

Common use:

  • Boosts copper or fiber connections
  • Convert one network media to another
  • Extend wireless network reach
3
Q

What is a Hub?

A

(Old technology. Not used. Replaced by Switches)

Also knows as a Multi-port Repeater

  • Traffic going in one port is repeated to every other port (i.e. Information sent to one interface on this hub is automatically repeated to every other interface)
  • With a hub you’re repeating the signal out of multiple interfaces simultaneously
  • Becomes less efficient as network speeds increase
  • Half Duplex (this means 2 devices cant communicate at the same time on a hub)

Only operates at 10 megabits / 100 megabits per second. You won’t find any gigabit hubs.

4
Q

What is a Bridge?

A

(Old technology. Not used. Replaced by Switches)

Basically a switch with two to four ports

  • Makes forwarding decisions in software
  • Distributes traffic based on MAC addresses
  • Connects different physical networks (connects different topologies) e.x. We can move from an ethernet network (LAN) to a WAN by sending that traffic through a bridge

(A modern Bridge is a Wireless Access Point - It bridges wired Ethernet to wireless). That router is performing a Bridging function.

5
Q

What is a Switch?

A

Bridging done in hardware

A Switch works on the MAC address (every network card has a MAC address that is unique to that card)

  • The switching hardware is: Application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)
  • Forwards traffic based on data link address
  • Many ports and features
  • Full Duplex = Sends and receives data at same time

Looks at the destination MAC address and sends that information to the appropriate interface on the switch.

-Multilayer Switch - Includes routing functionality “Layer 3 Switch”

6
Q

Unmanaged Switch

A

Very few configuration options

PnP

Fixed configuration

7
Q

Managed Switch

A

VLAN support

Traffic Prioritization

Redundancy Support

Network management station can communicate to these devices using a specialized protocol called SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)

8
Q

What are Routers?

A

Routes IP addresses between IP subnets

  • Makes forwarding decisions based on IP address
  • Connects diverse network types (LAN, WAN, copper, fiber) (Different topologies)
9
Q

What are Wireless Access Points? (WAP)

A

“literally just a WiFi radio that provides a hotspot for your wireless devices to connect to.”

-They are not a router

  • WAP is a bridge
  • It extends the wired network onto the wireless network
  • Makes forwarding decisions based on MAC address
10
Q

Wireless LAN controller

A

Centralized management of WAPs

  • Deploy new access points
  • Performance and security monitoring
  • Configure and deploy changes to all sites
  • Report on access point usage
11
Q

Firewalls

A

Filters traffic by port number
*OSI Layer 4 (TCP/UDP)

Can encrypt traffic into/out of the network

Can proxy traffic - Means they sit it in the middle of the communication

Most firewalls can be layer 3 devices (routers)

12
Q

Cable Modems

A

Uses the same wire we traditionally use for our Televisions

DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification)

  • Cabling that carries TV signals
  • Coaxial Cabling
  • Shared Bandwidth

Different types of throughput is supported

  • 4 Mbit/s through 250 Mbit/s are common
  • Gigabit speeds are possible

Multiple services can be utilized
-Already supporting video through the network, so we can include DATA and VOICE

13
Q

DSL Modem

A

Uses the same wire we traditionally use for our telephones

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)

It’s asymmetric because the download speed is faster than the upload speed

One challenge: Significant distance limitation betwen telephone company’s central office and telephone jack that’s in your home

  • Max distance 10,000 ft.
  • 52 Mbit/s downstream and 15 Mbit/s upstream
  • Closer to the central office = faster speeds
14
Q

What are Midspans?

What are Endspans?

A

Midspans are in-line power injectors. They provide PoE to a device that a switch can’t.

Endspans are switches that have built in power and provide that power to the device.