CSC 2773 LAN Technologies Quiz

CSC 2773 LAN Technologies

Course covers LAN technologies, IEEE LAN standards, and IEEE 802.11 wireless standards.

Network Components

Every computer on a network is a host or end device.
Servers provide information to end devices (e.g., email servers, web servers, file servers).
Clients request information from servers (e.g., web pages, emails).

Host Roles

Computers on a network are either servers or clients.
Servers provide data and services to clients.
Clients request data and services from servers.

End Devices

An end device is where a message originates or is received.
Data flows through the network from one end device to another.

Intermediary Network Devices

Intermediary devices connect end devices (e.g., switches, wireless access points, routers, firewalls).
Manage data flow, regenerate signals, maintain network paths, and notify devices of errors or communication failures.

Network Media

Communication across a network happens through a medium.
Metal wires (cables) use electrical impulses.
Fiber optic cables use pulses of light.
Wireless transmission uses electromagnetic waves.

LANs and WANs

LANs cover a small geographical area, are typically managed by a single organization or individual, and provide high-speed internal bandwidth.
WANs connect LANs across wide geographical areas, are managed by one or more service providers, and typically offer slower speeds between LANs.
Network infrastructures vary in size, number of users, services available, and area of responsibility.

The Internet

The internet is a worldwide collection of interconnected LANs and WANs.
Data travels through various LANs and WANs using copper wires, fiber optic cables, and wireless transmissions.
The internet isn't owned by a single entity but is maintained by organizations like IETF, ICANN, and JAB.

LAN Topologies

End devices are often connected using a star or extended star topology, which are scalable, easy to install, and troubleshoot.
Other topologies include bus and ring topologies.
- In a bus topology, all devices are connected and terminate along a single cable.
- In a ring topology, each end device connects only to its neighboring devices to form a circle.

Data Link Frame

Data is encapsulated into frames, with a header and trailer.
The frame has three parts: header, data, and trailer.
The header and trailer fields vary in accordance with the data link protocol.
The amount of control information in the frame differs based on access control information and topology.

Frame Fields

Frame start/stop identifies beginning and end of frame data, addressing indicates source and destination devices, Type identifies the Layer 3 protocol being encapsulated, Control indicates flow control services, and Data contains the actual data to be transmitted.
Error detection fields are used in frame analysis to determine transmission errors.

Layer 2 Addresses

Layer 2 addresses (physical addresses) are contained within the frame header.
These addresses are used for local delivery of frames on a network.
Each device on the network updates and forwards these addresses as needed.

LAN and WAN Frames

The data link protocol used depends upon logical topology and physical media (e.g., Ethernet, 802.11 Wireless, Point-to-Point, HDLC, and Frame Relay).
Each protocol manages media access within their respective logical topologies.

IEEE Standards

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) develops standards for electronics and computing, including network protocols.
Its aim is fostering technological innovation for human advancement.

IEEE 802 Standards

IEEE 802 standards define data-link layer and physical-layer technologies like Ethernet and wireless communication
Dividing data link layer into LLC (Logical Link Control) and MAC (Media Access Control)
Standards ensure communication between various devices and maintain network connectivity and management structure.
802.11 : Wireless standards (e.g., 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, etc.). These standards establish radio frequencies and corresponding data rates for wireless LAN communications.

IEEE 802.3 Standards

802.3 Standards are Ethernet standards for wired networks.
These standards (e.g., 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 1000BASE-X, 10GBASE-X, etc.) cover different speeds and cabling variations.

Wireless LAN (WLAN)

Wireless LAN (WLAN) is used in homes, offices, and campus environments for mobility.
Various types of wireless networks exist (e.g., WPAN, WLAN, WMAN, WWAN).

Wireless Technologies

Wireless technologies like Bluetooth, WiMAX, and cellular broadband (using GSM and CDMA) transmit data over radio frequencies.

Radio Frequencies

The frequencies used for wireless communications in networks are detailed, including 2.4 GHz (UHF) and 5 GHz (SHF). Specific IEEE 802.11 standards operate within these bands, with particular standards supporting varied data rates and frequencies.