Network Components and Types Quiz

Network Components

• Networks can be simple, connecting two computers with a cable, or complex, spanning the globe.
• Networks are made up of three categories of components: devices, media, and services.
• End devices originate or receive data, such as computers, phones, and tablets.
• Intermediary devices connect end devices and manage data flow in a network. Examples include: switches, wireless access points, routers, and firewalls.
• Network media carries communication across a network, allowing messages to travel from source to destination.
• Network media includes metallic wires within cables (copper), glass (fiber optic cables), and wireless transmission.
• Network diagrams use symbols to represent devices, including the Network Interface Card (NIC), physical ports, and interfaces.

Network Types

• Common network types include: Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), Wireless LANs (WLANs), and Storage Area Networks (SANs).
• LANs span a small geographic area such as a home, office, school, or campus.
• LANs are usually administered by a single organization or individual.
• LANs provide high-speed bandwidth to devices within the network.
• WANs interconnect LANs over wide geographical areas such as between cities, states, or countries.
• WANs are usually administered by multiple service providers.
• WANs typically provide slower speed links between LANs.

The Internet

• The Internet is a global collection of interconnected LANs and WANs.
• LANs are connected using WANs, and WANs are connected using copper wires, fiber optic cables, and wireless transmissions.
• The Internet is not owned by any individual or group, but groups like the IETF, ICANN, and IAB help maintain its structure.

Intranets and Extranets

• Intranets are private collections of LANs and WANs internal to an organization, accessible only to authorized members.
• Extranets provide secure access to an organization's network for individuals outside the organization who need access to data.

Internet Access Technologies

• Popular Internet access technologies for home and small offices include broadband cable, DSL, wireless WANs, and mobile services.
• Organizations often use business-class interconnections, such as business DSL, leased lines, and Metro Ethernet, to support IP phones, video conferencing, and data center storage.

Reliable Networks

• Multiple paths are required in networks for fault tolerance.
• Packet switching networks allow each data packet to potentially take a different path to the destination, increasing reliability.
• Circuit-switched networks establish dedicated circuits, preventing packet routing flexibility.
• Scalable networks expand quickly and easily to handle new users and applications without impacting existing users.
• Network designers follow accepted standards and protocols to ensure network scalability.
• Quality of Service (QoS) is a mechanism used to ensure reliable delivery of content across a network.
• QoS policies allow routers to manage data and voice traffic flow.

Network Trends

• BYOD allows end users to use personal devices like laptops, netbooks, tablets, smartphones, and e-readers to access information and communicate on the network.
• Online collaboration tools, such as Cisco WebEx, enable individuals to connect, interact, and work on joint projects over the network.
• Cloud computing allows users to store files, back up data, and access applications, like word processing and photo editing, on servers over the Internet.
• Cloud computing enables businesses to expand capabilities on demand and deliver services to any device.
• Cloud computing utilizes data centers, allowing smaller companies to lease server and storage services from larger organizations.
• Three types of clouds exist: public clouds, private clouds, and hybrid clouds.
• Public clouds offer services and applications to the general public through a pay-per-use model or for free.
• Private clouds are for specific organizations or entities, such as a government.
• Hybrid clouds combine elements of both public and private clouds.

Test your knowledge on network components and types in this comprehensive quiz. Explore the roles of end devices, intermediary devices, and various media in network communication, along with an overview of different network types like LANs and WANs.