Network Performance and Digital Bandwidth Quiz

Network Fundamentals

• The Internet is designed with multiple paths to any one location.

Digital Bandwidth

• Digital Bandwidth measures the amount of digital information that can flow from one place to another in a given amount of time.
• It is measured in bits per second.
• Digital Bandwidth has limitations due to the laws of physics and current technological limitations.

Throughput and Digital Bandwidth

• Throughput refers to the actual, measured bandwidth at a specific time of day, using specific Internet routes, while downloading a specific file.
• Throughput is often less than the maximum possible Digital Bandwidth of the medium being used.
• Factors that determine throughput and digital bandwidth include:
• Networking devices
• Type of data being transferred
• Network topology
• Number of users
• User's computer

Types of Networks

Local Area Network (LAN)

• LANs have a smaller coverage area.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

• WANs have a larger coverage area.

Peer-to-Peer Network

• In a peer-to-peer network, networked computers act as equal partners or peers.
• Each computer can take on the client function or the server function.
• Individual users control their own resources and decide what to share with others.
• There is no central point of control or administration in the network.
• Individual users must back up their own systems to recover from data loss in case of failures.

Networking Media

• Networking media is responsible for carrying data from the source host to the destination host.
• Network media can be classified into three main groups:
• Copper media
• Optical media
• Wireless media
• Common types of networking media include:
• Twisted pair cable
• Coaxial cable
• Fiber optic cable
• Air (wireless)

Hardware Address (MAC Address)

• Every node on a network must have a unique identifier.
• The unique identifier is hardwired into the Network Interface Card (NIC).