Chapter 7- Local Area Networks: The Basics Review Questions 1. What is the definition of a local area network?

P- 196 A LAN is a communications network that interconnects a variety of data communications devices within a small geographic area and transmits data at high transfer rates. 3. List the advantages and disadvantages of local area networks. "P. 199-200 - Advantages: capability to allow users to share hardware and software resources in an efficient manner. Also, component evolution can be independent of system evolution and vice versa; high transfer rates and low error rates. Disadvantages: LAN hardware, software, operating system and software that runs on the LAN can be expensive. demanding management and control; LAN is dependent upon its many parts and functions...only as good as its weakest link." 5. What is meant by a "passive device"? P. 201 - A tap is a passive device which means it does not alter the signal and doesn't require electricity to operate. 6. What is meant by a "bidirectional signal"? P. 202 - When a signal is transmitted from a given workstation, the signal propagates away from the source in both directions on the cable.

8. What purpose does a hub serve? P. 204 - It's a relatively nonintelligent device that simply and immediately retransmits that data it receives from any workstation out to all other workstations connected to the hub. 9. What is the difference between physical design and logical design?

P. 203 - Logical design refers to how the data moves around the network from workstation to workstation but physical refers to the actual pattern formed by the locations of the elements of the network. 17. How does a transparent switch work? P. 209 - Upon installation the swithc begins observing the addresses of the frames in transmission on the current network and creates an internal port table to be used in future forwarding decisions. 18. What is backward learning? P. 209 -Observing the location from which a frame has come. The switch assumes the frame originated from somewhere on that network. 20. When referring to a hub or switch, what is a port? P. 255 - 257 Dot matrix printers uses impact technologyLaser printers operates with an electrical charge and attraction of ink to this charge.

21. What are the basic functions of a switch? P. 208 - Primary function is to direct the data frame to only the addressed receiver. Interconnects multiple workstations on a single LAN or multiple LANs. Acts as a filter ensuring the destination address is the only receiver of the appropriate data...not all workstations. 22. How does a switch differ from a hub? P. 208-A switch examines the destination address of a frame and transmit data only to the appropriate workstations within a network. A hub does not take addresses into consideration; sends the data to all workstations within the network. P. 211 - A switch performs faster than a hub. 23. What is cut-through architecture? P. 211 - The data frame begins to exit the switch almost as soon as it begins to enter the switch. It allows a switch to pass data frames very quickly, thus improving the overall network throughput.