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Flip to reveal answersWhat is a network, and what does it make possible?
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All 5 Flashcards — What networks are for
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Question
What is a network, and what does it make possible?
Answer
Two or more devices connected so they can exchange data. That enables sharing hardware and files, communication between people, and reaching central services from anywhere.
Question
What is the difference between a LAN and a WAN?
Answer
A LAN covers one site on cabling the organisation owns, making it fast and cheap. A WAN spans several distant sites over links it does not own — rented lines or the internet — so it is slower and costs more per unit of data.
Question
What is a PAN?
Answer
A personal area network: a few metres around one person, joining a phone to its earbuds or a smartwatch. Usually Bluetooth, chosen for very short range and very low power.
Question
What is a VPN and what does it do?
Answer
A virtual private network creates an encrypted tunnel across a public network, so a distant device behaves as though it were on the organisation's own LAN and can reach internal servers not exposed to the internet.
Question
Give one benefit and one drawback of networking an organisation's computers.
Answer
Benefit: one central copy of data that everyone works from and that stays current, plus shared hardware. Drawback: a single failure or break-in can affect everyone connected rather than one machine.
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Full study notes for What networks are for
Topic 2.1 hub
Network fundamentals
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Computer Science exam skills
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