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Qualifications KS3 Computing Networks

Network Topologies

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Which term describes the physical layout of how the computers and devices in a network are connected together?
Topology
What is meant by 'bus topology'?
All the computers are connected to a single shared cable, with a terminator at each end
What is the name of the part fitted at each end of the single shared cable in a bus network?
Terminator
What is meant by 'star topology'?
All the devices are connected to a central switch, either by cable or wirelessly
Which term describes the one part of a network that, if it breaks down, causes the whole network to stop working?
Single point of failure
What is meant by 'partial mesh'?
Devices are connected to some, but not all, of the other devices
Which is an advantage of a bus topology?
It needs less cabling than a star and no switch
What is the job of the terminators in a bus topology?
To stop the signal reflecting back along the cable
The main cable of a bus network is cut in the middle. What happens?
No computer on the network can use it
Why does a bus network slow down as more computers are added?
Every computer shares the same single cable
In a star topology, what do the computers and a wireless access point connect to?
The central switch
Why is a star network more reliable than a bus network when a cable breaks?
On a star, only the one affected computer loses the network
There is no switch, and every device is connected directly to every other device. Which topology is this?
Full mesh
A smart bulb using Zigbee is too far from the hub to connect directly. How can it still work?
It passes messages through other bulbs to reach the hub
Which is a disadvantage of a wired mesh network?
It needs a lot of cabling, so it is expensive to build
Why is a bus network a poor choice for an office that sends confidential files?
Every computer receives all of the data that is sent
One computer in a mesh network stops working. Why can the other computers still send data to each other?
There are other routes between the devices
A computer on a star network sends a file quickly, even when the other computers are busy. Why?
Each computer has its own cable to the switch
A company is thinking of replacing its star network with a wired mesh. Which is a disadvantage of doing this?
It is harder to set up and maintain
Which is an advantage of both bus and star topologies?
It is easy to add another computer to the network