Communications Fundamentals FAQ

Chapter 14 FAQ

1. 14.8.1 What Is a Computer Network and Why Do We Need One
   1. What Is a Computer Network?
   2. Why Were Computer Networks Developed?
   3. What Are the Benefits of Networking?
   4. What Resources Can Be Shared?
   5. How Do Devices Communicate?
   6. What Types of Networks Exist?
   7. How Is Networking Different from Internetworking?
   8. Why Have Networks Become So Important?
   9. How Have Networks Changed Over Time?
   10. What Makes Modern Networks Possible?
   11. Will Networks Continue to Grow?
   12. Why Is Understanding Networks Important?
   13. What Should You Remember?
2. 14.8.2 What Is the OSI Model and Why Is It Important
   1. Why Was the OSI Model Developed?
   2. What Is a Layered Architecture?
   3. What Are the Seven Layers?
   4. What Does Each Layer Do?
   5. Why Is Layering Such a Good Idea?
   6. How Does Information Move Through the Layers?
   7. Does Every Layer Communicate Directly with Its Equivalent Layer?
   8. Why Is the OSI Model Still Taught?
   9. Is the OSI Model Used Exactly in Practice?
   10. How Does the OSI Model Help with Troubleshooting?
   11. Will the OSI Model Remain Relevant?
   12. What Should You Remember?
3. 14.8.3 What Is the Difference Between the OSI Model and the TCP-IP Model
   1. Why Are There Two Networking Models?
   2. What Is the OSI Model?
   3. What Is TCP/IP?
   4. How Do the Layers Compare?
   5. Why Didn't the Internet Adopt the OSI Protocols?
   6. Does the Internet Use the OSI Model?
   7. Why Is the OSI Model Still Taught?
   8. Which Model Is Better?
   9. Do Modern Networks Follow the Layers Exactly?
   10. Will TCP/IP Continue to Dominate?
   11. Why Should Communication Engineers Understand Both Models?
   12. What Should You Remember?
4. 14.8.4 How Does Ethernet Actually Work
   1. What Is Ethernet?
   2. How Did Ethernet Begin?
   3. What Is CSMA/CD?
   4. Why Did Ethernet Change?
   5. What Is an Ethernet Frame?
   6. What Is a MAC Address?
   7. How Does an Ethernet Switch Work?
   8. Why Is Modern Ethernet Full-Duplex?
   9. How Fast Is Ethernet?
   10. What Transmission Media Does Ethernet Use?
   11. Why Has Ethernet Been So Successful?
   12. Will Ethernet Continue to Evolve?
   13. What Should You Remember?
5. 14.8.5 What Is an Ethernet Switch and How Does It Forward Data
   1. Why Do Networks Need Switches?
   2. What Is an Ethernet Switch?
   3. How Does a Switch Know Where to Send a Frame?
   4. What Happens If the Destination Is Unknown?
   5. Why Are Switches Faster Than Hubs?
   6. What Is a Collision Domain?
   7. What Is a Broadcast Domain?
   8. What Is a VLAN?
   9. Why Does Modern Ethernet Use Full-Duplex Links?
   10. How Large Can Switched Networks Become?
   11. Are Switches Used Outside Local Area Networks?
   12. Why Are Ethernet Switches So Important?
   13. What Should You Remember?
6. 14.8.6 Why Is Fiber Replacing Copper in Modern Networks
   1. Why Do Networks Need Different Types of Cabling?
   2. How Does Copper Ethernet Work?
   3. What Are the Advantages of Copper?
   4. What Is Power over Ethernet?
   5. Why Is Fiber Optic Cable Different?
   6. What Are the Advantages of Fiber?
   7. Why Isn't Everything Connected Using Fiber?
   8. What Is Structured Cabling?
   9. How Fast Can Copper and Fiber Operate?
   10. Where Is Fiber Replacing Copper?
   11. Will Copper Eventually Disappear?
   12. What Should You Remember?
7. 14.8.7 How Does Wi-Fi Work
   1. What Is Wi-Fi?
   2. How Does a Wi-Fi Network Operate?
   3. What Is an Access Point?
   4. What Is a Basic Service Set?
   5. How Do Large Wi-Fi Networks Cover Entire Buildings?
   6. How Do Many Devices Share the Same Radio Channel?
   7. How Does Wi-Fi Transmit So Much Data?
   8. What Is MIMO?
   9. Why Does Wi-Fi Use Different Frequency Bands?
   10. Why Does Wi-Fi Performance Vary?
   11. How Has Wi-Fi Improved Over Time?
   12. Will Wi-Fi Replace Ethernet?
   13. What Should You Remember?
8. 14.8.8 Why Is Wi-Fi Sometimes Slower Than Wired Ethernet
   1. Why Is Wired Ethernet Usually Faster?
   2. Why Do Wi-Fi Users Share the Same Channel?
   3. How Does Wi-Fi Prevent Devices from Transmitting Together?
   4. Why Does Distance Affect Wi-Fi Speed?
   5. How Does Interference Reduce Performance?
   6. Why Do Walls Matter?
   7. Does the Frequency Band Make a Difference?
   8. Why Does Channel Width Affect Speed?
   9. Why Can Performance Change Throughout the Day?
   10. Why Doesn't Wi-Fi Always Reach Its Advertised Speed?
   11. Can Modern Wi-Fi Match Ethernet?
   12. How Can Wi-Fi Performance Be Improved?
   13. What Should You Remember?
9. 14.8.9 How Are Wireless Networks Kept Secure
   1. Why Does Wi-Fi Require Stronger Security Than Ethernet?
   2. What Are the Main Objectives of Wi-Fi Security?
   3. Why Was WEP Replaced?
   4. What Is WPA2?
   5. What Improvements Does WPA3 Provide?
   6. What Is Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE)?
   7. How Is Information Protected After Authentication?
   8. How Are Enterprise Wi-Fi Networks Secured?
   9. Are Public Wi-Fi Networks Secure?
   10. What Is Wi-Fi Easy Connect?
   11. Can Wireless Networks Be Completely Secure?
   12. Will Wi-Fi Security Continue to Evolve?
   13. What Should You Remember?
10. 14.8.10 What Is the Difference Between LANs, WLANs, PANs, and Other Network Types
    1. Why Are There So Many Different Network Technologies?
    2. What Is a Local Area Network (LAN)?
    3. What Is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)?
    4. What Is a Personal Area Network (PAN)?
    5. What Is Bluetooth?
    6. What Is Zigbee?
    7. What Is Near Field Communication (NFC)?
    8. How Do These Technologies Compare?
    9. Can Different Network Types Work Together?
    10. Which Technology Should Be Chosen?
    11. How Are Network Technologies Continuing to Evolve?
    12. How Does This Lead to the Internet?
    13. What Should You Remember?