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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What
is a Network?
A group of two or more computer systems linked together.
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What
is a Local Area Network (LAN)?
A computer network that spans a relatively small area. Most
LANs are a
group of Computers confined
to a single building or group of buildings.
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What
is a Wide Area Network (WAN)?
A computer network that spans a relatively large geographical
area. Typically, a WAN consists of two or more local-area
networks
(LANs). Computers connected to a wide-area network are often
connected through public networks, such as the public telephone
system, leased lines, or satellites. The largest WAN in existence
is
the Internet.
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What
is a Domain?
TOP
A Microsoft Windows™ Domain is a group of computers
and devices on a network that are administered as a unit with
common
rules
and
procedures and centrally controlled (ex. a LAN). Internet
Domains are are defined by all devices sharing
a common name space and are then
said to be in the same domain (ex. microsoft.com and support.microsoft.com).
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What
is physical topology?
TOP
The physical layout of devices on a network. Every LAN has a
topology, or the way that the devices on a network are arranged
and how they communicate with each other. The way that the workstations
are connected to the network through the actual cables that
transmit data -- the physical structure of the network -- is
called the physical topology. The logical topology, in contrast,
is the way that the signals act on the network media, or the
way that the data passes through the network from one device
to the next without regard to the physical interconnection of
the devices.
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What
is a logical topology?
TOP
Also called signal topology. Every LAN has a topology, or the
way that the devices on a network are arranged and how they
communicate with each other. The way that the workstations are
connected to the network through the actual cables that transmit
data -- the physical structure of the network -- is called the
physical topology. The logical topology, in contrast, is the
way that the signals act on the network media, or the way that
the data passes through the network from one device to the next
without regard to the physical interconnection of the devices.
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What
is a Router?
TOP
A device that connects any number of LANs.
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What
is a Firewall?
TOP
A system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from
a private network. Firewalls can be implemented in both hardware
and software, or a combination of both. Firewalls are frequently
used to prevent unauthorized Internet users from accessing
private
networks connected to the Internet, especially intranets. All
data entering or leaving the intranet passes through the firewall,
which examines each data packet and blocks those that do not
meet the specified security criteria.
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