Network Basics
1. What is a network?
A computer network is a group of computers linked to each other that enables the computer to
communicate with another computer and share their resources, data, and applications.
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2. What is a modem?
A modem modulates and demodulates electrical signals sent through phone lines, coaxial cables,
or other types of wiring; in other words, it transforms digital information from your computer into
analog signals that can transmit over wires, and it can translate incoming analog signals back into
digital data that your computer can understand. Most stand-alone modems have just two ports:
one that connects to the outside world, and an Ethernet jack that connects to a computer or a
router.
3. What is a router?
Your router’s primary responsibility is to route data between devices in your home, and between
those devices and the wider Internet. The system of interconnected devices plus the router itself
is what we’re collectively referring to when we talk about a home network. Your modem connects
to one port on the router—usually (but not always) labeled “Wide Area Network,” or “WAN”—
and all of your devices connect to the other ports, or wirelessly over the Wi-Fi standard.
4. What is the difference between a router and a modem?
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5. What is IP address and its types?
An Internet Protocol (IP) address is the unique identifying number assigned to every device
connected to the internet. An IP address definition is a numeric label assigned to devices that use
the internet to communicate. Computers that communicate over the internet or via local
networks share information to a specific location using IP addresses.
Private: Used within the local area network
Public: Used in the wide area network/internet
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6. How to connect a device to a wireless network?
Turn ON wifi in the device – Scan the list of networks – Select the network – Enter the security
key/password/passphrase to get connected
7. How to find the IP address of a device?
Go to command prompt utility in a computer and type the command ipconfig /all
8. What is 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency band that we commonly notice in Wireless router?
Wireless radios that operate in different frequency: 2.4GHz (For longer range and decent speed)
,5GHz (For better speed and shorter range)
9. What is DHCP?
A DHCP Server is a network server that automatically provides and assigns IP addresses, default
gateways and other network parameters to client devices. It relies on the standard protocol
known as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol or DHCP to respond to broadcast queries by
clients.
A DHCP server automatically sends the required network parameters for clients to properly
communicate on the network. Without it, the network administrator has to manually set up every
client that joins the network, which can be cumbersome, especially in large networks. DHCP
servers usually assign each client with a unique dynamic IP address, which changes when the
client’s lease for that IP address has expired.
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10. What is DNS?
The Domain Name System (DNS) is the phonebook of the Internet. When users type domain
names such as ‘[Link]’ or ‘[Link]’ into web browsers, DNS is responsible for finding
the correct IP address for those sites. Browsers then use those addresses to communicate
with origin servers or CDN edge servers to access website information. This all happens thanks to
DNS servers: machines dedicated to answering DNS queries.
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11. What is NAT?
NAT stands for network address translation. It’s a way to map multiple local private addresses to
a public one before transferring the information. Organizations that want multiple devices to
employ a single IP address use NAT, as do most home routers.
12. Different types of NAT
There are three different types of NATs. People use them for different reasons, but they all still
work as a NAT.
1. Static NAT
When the local address is converted to a public one, this NAT chooses the same one. This means
there will be a consistent public IP address associated with that router or NAT device.
2. Dynamic NAT
Instead of choosing the same IP address every time, this NAT goes through a pool of public IP
addresses. This results in the router or NAT device getting a different address each time the router
translates the local address to a public address.
3. PAT
PAT stands for port address translation. It’s a type of dynamic NAT, but it bands several local IP
addresses to a singular public one. Organizations that want all their employees’ activity to use a
singular IP address use a PAT, often under the supervision of a network administrator.
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13. What is Wi-Fi
WiFi stands for Wireless Fidelity. WiFiIt is based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards and is
primarily a local area networking (LAN) technology designed to provide in-building broadband
coverage. Current WiFi systems support a peak physical-layer data rate of 54 Mbps and typically
provide indoor coverage over a distance of 100 feet.
WiFi has become the de facto standard for last mile broadband connectivity in homes, offices,
and public hotspot locations. Systems can typically provide a coverage range of only about 1,000
feet from the access point.
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14. Different types of Wi-Fi Standards
Wireless standards are a set of services and protocols that dictate how your Wi-Fi network (and
other data transmission networks) acts.
The most common set of wireless standards you will encounter is the IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN
(WLAN) & Mesh. The IEEE updates the 802.11 Wi-Fi standard every few years. At the time of
writing, the current Wi-Fi standard is 802.11ac, while the next generation Wi-Fi standard,
802.11ax, is in the process of rolling out.
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explained/
15. What is OSI Model?
The OSI Model is a logical and conceptual model that defines network communication used by
systems open to interconnection and communication with other systems. The Open System
Interconnection (OSI Model) also defines a logical network and effectively describes computer
packet transfer by using various layers of protocols.
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