Computer Networks

A layer 2 switch acts as a bridge with many ports and a design that allows better performance in networking.

WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) enables mobile devices with limited capabilities to access internet services like web browsing and email. TCP/IP and Ethernet are wired/wireless networking protocols, while Token ring is a legacy LAN technology.

Network site licenses permit multiple users on a network to access a single copy of software installed on a server, providing cost-effective sharing. Single-user licenses restrict to one user, while EULA is a legal agreement, not a license type.

A gateway connects networks with different protocols and translates between them, enabling communication between dissimilar systems. Bridges connect similar networks, routers direct traffic, and modems convert digital signals to analog for transmission. Gateways operate at a higher level, handling protocol conversion.

Voice mail functions like an answering machine - callers can leave voice messages when the recipient is unavailable or chooses not to answer. Unlike email (text), chat (real-time text), or video conferencing (visual meetings), voice mail specifically stores audio messages for later retrieval. It's an asynchronous communication technology.

Optic fiber cables transmit data using light pulses, enabling extremely high speeds (gigabits to terabits per second). Coaxial cable (A) and twisted pair/UTP (C, D) use electrical signals and have much lower bandwidth limits due to electromagnetic interference and signal degradation. Fiber optics are the fastest transmission medium for long-distance data communication.

Dial-up is NOT a broadband connection. Broadband refers to high-speed, always-on internet connections. Dial-up uses traditional phone lines, requires establishing a connection each time, and offers very slow speeds (maximum 56 Kbps), which does not meet broadband speed criteria.

NIC (Network Interface Card) is the hardware component that allows a computer to connect to a network. It's commonly called a 'LAN card' because it's the physical interface for Local Area Network connections, implementing the physical and data-link layer protocols.

In token ring networks, a special frame called the 'token' circulates continuously around the ring. Only the computer currently holding the token has permission to transmit data, preventing collisions and ensuring orderly access to the network medium.

Servers are powerful computers that provide shared resources like files, printers, applications, and services to client computers connected to a network. They handle requests from clients and manage centralized resources for efficient distribution.

A router is required on a network to share a broadband Internet connection among multiple devices. While a modem connects to the ISP, only a router can distribute that connection to multiple devices through network address translation (NAT) and routing functions.

Network architecture refers to the design and structure of the network, including its topology, protocols, hardware components, and how devices communicate. It's the blueprint that defines how the network is organized and functions.

A modem (modulator-demodulator) converts digital computer signals to analog signals for transmission over telephone lines, then converts analog signals back to digital at the receiving end. This enables digital devices to communicate over analog phone infrastructure.

Clock synchronization is used in the preamble of an Ethernet network. It provides synchronization and input timing to the frame to alert the receiving system.