Network Basics Quiz

Study Notes

Network nodes are the building blocks of networks, and can vary in type and quantity of tasks they can perform.
Examples of network nodes include:
- Network Interface Controllers (NICs): hardware that connects computers to network media via cables (e.g. Ethernet) or wireless transmission.
- Repeaters: hardware that receives network signals, clears out unnecessary noise, and resends the signal to make it more efficient.
- Routers: devices that forward packets of data between networks by processing the address.
- Modems: hardware that modulates digital network traffic to create wireless signals.

A host is a computer or device connected to a network on the Internet.
Examples of hosts include computers, printers, and smartphones.
Each host has a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address, which is similar to a country's mail or postal system.
IP addresses allow data to be sent to specific computers/devices, just like a house has its own street address.
Hosts connect to the Internet through routers, which transmit data between networks within the Internet.

Routers transmit data between different networks.
Routing is the process of finding a path from sender to receiver.
Home routers connect local devices to a cable modem, which provides the Internet connection.
Cable modems or DSL modems connect to an Internet Service Provider (ISP), which connects to the core Internet backbone routers.
Routers can use Ethernet or WiFi to connect to devices.

The Client/Server Model separates tasks/workloads between providers of a service (servers) and those requesting a service (clients).
Servers store and process data, while clients access and request services from servers.
Examples of clients include software on a host that accesses a service on a server, such as Gmail.
A host can take on both server and client roles, and a server shares its resources with clients, but clients do not share their resources.