Computer Networks

LAN (Local Area Network) connects computers and devices within a limited geographic area like a home, office, or building. It does not require a minimum number of PCs or always include a server.

In networking terminology, any electronic device connected to a network is referred to as a 'node'. This includes computers, printers, servers, and any other addressable device on the network. A hub is a central connection point, a router directs traffic, and cable is the physical medium - none of these are general terms for network devices.

Client/server networks are designed for centralized resource management. When you need to store large databases and applications in one location that multiple users access simultaneously, a client/server architecture is necessary. Peer-to-peer networks are suitable for basic resource sharing like printers or fax machines among a small number of users, but not for centralized database management.

Peer-to-peer networks do not require dedicated server operating systems. Each computer can run a standard desktop OS like Windows 95/98 and share resources directly with others. P2P is not ideal for large file transfers, doesn't require a router (can work with just cables/hubs), and works with various cable types including copper Ethernet.

In client/server networks, the server stores shared files and resources centrally, but individual PCs can also store files locally. Client/server networks require specialized server OS (not just Windows 95/98), are designed with redundancy so one node failure doesn't crash the network, and can scale well beyond 20 nodes.

Ethernet is a family of networking technologies that defines how data is transmitted over a network. It specifies protocols at the physical and data link layers, determining how information packets travel between devices. It's not a private network (that's an intranet), doesn't need its own OS, works with various network types including peer-to-peer, and the option D text appears garbled.

A NIC (Network Interface Card) is the hardware component that installs in a PC and enables it to connect to a network. It provides the physical interface between the computer and network medium. Hubs and routers are external network devices, not expansion cards installed inside PCs, while graphic accelerator cards are for video processing, not networking.

Network planning should prioritize flexibility and future expansion. Technology evolves rapidly, so choosing scalable, upgradable products protects your investment. Backup for all devices (A) is cost-prohibitive, telephone lines per PC (C) is unnecessary for networks, and fastest cabling (D) may be overkill if obsolescence comes from protocol changes rather than cabling speed limits.

A dual 10/100 Mbps Ethernet NIC is designed to support both legacy 10 Mbps networks and newer 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet networks. This provides upgrade flexibility - the same card works if you upgrade from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps infrastructure. It doesn't enable remote access (A), can't function as a hub (B), and uses standard Ethernet cabling, not cable lines (D).

A modem (modulator-demodulator) enables computers to communicate over telephone lines and access the internet. RAM is temporary memory, CD-DRIVE is optical storage, and HARD-DRIVE is permanent storage - none of these facilitate network communication. The modem's specific purpose is converting digital signals to analog for telephone line transmission.

The correct answer is E (None of the above) because BlackBerry devices support all the listed connectivity options: Wi-Fi for wireless networks, Bluetooth for short-range connections, Tethered Modem for using the device as a modem, and GPS for location services. Since all options A through D are supported by BlackBerry, the correct choice is 'None of the above' - meaning none of these are unsupported.

SANs (Storage Area Networks) commonly use Fibre Channel as the underlying transport protocol due to its high speed, reliability, and block-level storage access capabilities. While iSCSI and other protocols exist, Fibre Channel remains the traditional SAN topology.

Both SAN (Storage Area Network) and NAS (Network Attached Storage) are network storage systems that enable data sharing over high-speed LAN connections. SAN provides block-level storage while NAS provides file-level storage, but both serve the purpose of shared network data access.

The term Host Bus Adapter (HBA) is most commonly used to refer to Fibre Channel interface cards that connect a host system to a storage area network (SAN). Other adapters like iSCSI, SAS, or Ethernet cards use different interface terminologies.