What is a LAN (Local Area Network)?

A network connecting devices within a limited area — like a home, school, or office building — typically using Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi Any network that connects to the internet A network specifically designed for large corporations A wireless network that covers an entire city

What is a WAN (Wide Area Network)?

A network spanning large geographic areas — connecting multiple LANs across cities, countries, or continents; the internet itself is the largest WAN A wireless network as opposed to a wired network A network specifically for military and government use A network with very fast speeds — the W stands for 'Wicked Fast'

What is the difference between a switch and a router?

A switch connects devices within the same network (LAN); a router connects different networks together and directs traffic between them A switch is wireless; a router is wired A switch is for homes; a router is only for businesses They do the same thing — just different brand names

What is a peer-to-peer (P2P) network and how does it differ from a client-server network?

In P2P, all devices share resources equally with each other; in client-server, dedicated servers provide resources to client devices P2P is faster; client-server is more secure P2P is used only on the internet; client-server is only for LANs They are the same — all networks use both models simultaneously

What is a network topology and what are common examples?

The physical or logical arrangement of devices in a network — common types include star (all connect to a central hub), bus, ring, and mesh A map of all IP addresses in use on a network The security level of a network — how many layers of protection it has The speed rating of a network measured in Mbps

What does it mean when a network device is described as 'wired' vs 'wireless'?

Wired uses physical cables (Ethernet) for a direct, stable connection; wireless uses radio waves (Wi-Fi) for flexibility without cables Wired networks connect to electricity; wireless networks use batteries Wired is for permanent devices; wireless is temporary and weaker Wired is faster only for uploads; wireless is faster for downloads

What is a firewall and what does it protect against?

A system that monitors and filters incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules — blocking unauthorized access while allowing legitimate traffic A physical barrier that prevents hackers from physically accessing servers Software that removes viruses from downloaded files automatically A backup system that saves data in case of a network attack

What is the MAC address of a network device?

A unique hardware identifier burned into the network interface card — used to identify devices within the same local network segment The address of the Apple Macintosh computer on a network The username and password for accessing a device's network settings The maximum speed a device can achieve on its network connection

A company has offices in three cities. They want all three offices to share files and applications securely as if they were on the same network. What technology enables this?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates encrypted tunnels between the offices over the public internet, making them appear as one private network They would need to physically connect the cities with their own fiber cables Cloud storage automatically creates a shared network between any locations Email is the only secure way for companies in different cities to share information

What is network 'congestion' and what causes it?

When too much data is trying to flow through a network link at the same time, causing slowdowns, packet loss, and high latency When two devices try to use the same IP address simultaneously When a firewall blocks too much traffic, slowing legitimate connections When the physical cables become too full of electrical signals