Section 2.2: Networking Hardware

Learning Objectives

After completing this section, you should be able to

• describe a variety of networking hardware components and their uses in implementing enterprise-wide computer networks.

Tasks

• Study Chapter 6 of the TD textbook.
• Complete hands-on Project 6-4.
• Complete Case Project 6-1.

Study Questions

1. What network devices are commonly used on computer networks?
2. What are network adapters? Which layers of OSI reference model do NICs belong to?
3. What may a new network adapter be able to do?
4. What are some main features of NICs that can be used to differentiate one from another?
5. What are some main types of NICs?
6. What is an expansion board?
7. Where do you connect a NIC on a computer?
8. What are some common bus architectures you may deal with when installing and configuring computer networks?
9. In addition to PC buses, what other interfaces may network adapters be connected to, such as on a laptop computer?
10. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a USB network adapter?
11. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a wireless network adapter?
12. Which manufacturers make NICs?
13. What are the general procedures/steps to install a modern network adapter?
14. What is firmware?
15. Why is it important to use a Phillips-head screwdriver when installing an expansion card network adapter on a computer?
16. What is a device driver?
17. How do you install and configure NIC software on your computer?
18. How are IRQ numbers assigned to different devices on PC computers by default? What IRQ numbers may not be used by a NIC?
19. What system resources you may need to set or adjust for a NIC?
20. How do you view IRQ settings on your computer?
21. How do set or change IRQ number and memory range for a NIC?
22. What does the base I/O port setting specify?
23. What are some popular memory addresses for network adapters’ base I/O ports?
24. How do you change firmware setting on a NIC?
25. What is a loopback plug? When is it needed?
26. What are the main characteristics of network adapters?
27. What are the main features of repeaters? What are the limitations of repeaters?
28. In what layer of the OSI model do repeaters operate?
29. If you need to connect a computer to jack 550 metres away, how many repeaters do you need?
30. What are the differences between repeater and hub?
31. How do you use the uplink port on a hub?
32. Compared to passive hubs, what function(s) can an intelligent hub perform?
33. What are standalone hubs?
34. What are stackable hubs, modular hubs, and managed hubs?
35. How do you connect a hub to an existing network or another hub?
36. How do you connect a computer to a hub?
37. How do you choose the right hub for your needs?
38. What are bridges?
39. What are the differences between bridges and repeaters?
40. At what layer of the OSI reference model do bridges operate?
41. What functions does a bridge usually perform?
42. What functions does a bridge not perform?
43. What advantages do bridges have by being protocol-ignorant?
44. What methods may a bridge use to filter or forward packets?
45. What is transparent bridging?
46. What are the details of the spanning tree algorithm used in network bridges and routers?
47. What is source-route bridging?
48. What is translational bridging?
49. What are network switches?
50. What are the differences between switches and bridges?
51. Compared to hubs, what advantages do switches have?
52. What disadvantages do switches have?
53. What are the differences between cut-through mode and store-and-forward mode of switches?
54. What are VLANs? How do you use switches to create a virtual LAN?
55. What are higher layer switches?
56. What is a router?
57. At what layer of the OSI model do routers operate?
58. What are the main features and functions of routers?
59. What protocols are not routable? What does the term routable mean in the context of protocols?
60. What is a modular router?
61. What are the differences between static routing and dynamic routing?
62. What routing protocols may a router use?
63. What are the details of the RIP, OSPF, EIGRP, and BGP protocols?
64. What are the differences between brouters and routing switches?
65. What are gateways?
66. Where may a gateway reside?
67. What are some popular types of gateway?