Computer Networks

Many computer devices nowadays can be

connected to other devices and also to the
Internet. Such devices are sometimes referred to
as Connected Devices or Network-enabled
devices.
When you connect on device to another you are creating a
Examples of connected devices are: Network.
1. Smartphones
2. Smart TVs Networks allow devices to share information e.g. files such
3. Xbox games consoles as documents, music, photos and share resources such
4. Desktop Computer printers, Internet access, etc.
5. Laptop Computer
Here are some types of Networks for you to learn about.
Task 1: Add three additional Network-enabled
LAN – Local Area Network
devices
6. Printer WAN – Wide Area Network
7. Tablet
8. File server (3 marks) PAN – Personal Area Network
A LAN is a Local Area Network

Network-enabled devices are

connected together in a small
geographical area.

The hardware devices are usually

wired with ethernet cables or
connected by Wireless using Wi-Fi.

This is the most common type of

network and can be found in
businesses, schools and universities.

Task 2: List the nine different network-enabled devices in this image.

• Mobile phone
• Tablet
• Client
• Laptop
• Laptop
• Client
• Printer
• WiFi router (9 marks)
 How does a network
enabled device connect
with another device?
Most devices nowadays come with a built-in wireless adapter called a Network Interface Card (NIC). However desktop
computers and other devices will have an ethernet port which is part of the NIC. This allows for the connection of an
ethernet cable. The other end of the cable is connected to a switch which is then connected to other devices and also the
Internet. The wireless NIC connects the device to a Wireless Access Point or to a router.

Wireless Access Point

Wireless dongle
Ethernet NIC

Ethernet cable connecting to Ethernet cable

Network Switch Wireless NIC
an ethernet port
Task 3: Describe why each of these components are used in a computer network
Network-enabled device Purpose – why is it used? Network-enabled device Purpose – why is it used?
A NIC is a component that used to connect computers
provides networking and other devices to a
capabilities for a computer. wired local network.
It enables a wired
connection (such as
Ethernet) or a wireless
Ethernet NIC connection (such as Wi-Fi) Network Switch
to a local area network.

allow computers to connect devices that allow network

to the Internet and to other devices to connect to a
computers without using wired network. They form
wires. wireless local-area networks
Wireless Dongle Wireless Access Point (WLANs)

Ethernet cables connect It is used to provide access

devices within a local area to the Internet or a private
network, like PCs, routers, computer network.
and switches.
Wireless
Ethernet Cable Router

(6 marks)
A WAN is a Wide Area Network
A WAN connects LANs that are in different
geographical locations. For example:

• A banks branches can all be connected through a

WAN so that they are able to know when
customers have withdrawn money from any of
their branches.
• A business with offices in different countries would
be able to connect and have meetings over the
WAN or even send emails to each other.

Businesses can setup WANs by hiring communication

lines from Telecoms companies. This can be very
expensive.

WANs are connected using Fibre or copper telephone

lines or Satellite links or by radio links.

The Internet is an examples of a WAN and in fact is

described as the largest WAN.
A PAN is a Personal Area Network

A Personal Area Network allows us to connect our

network-enabled devices using a range of wireless and
wired techniques.

Bluetooth and Internet Tethering are common ways in

which we connect our devices.

You can use Bluetooth to connect two devices such as

your phone and tablet device so that you can share
images between them.

You can connect your phone and your laptop by either

Bluetooth, USB cable or Wi-Fi in order to share the
Internet on your phone with your computer. This is called
Personal Wi-Fi or Internet Tethering.

Task 4: Give two more examples of other connections that

you can do in a Personal Area Network. (2 marks)
 Factors that affect how well a Computer Network performs

Bandwidth – this is the amount of data that

can be transferred in a given time. This can Wired Connections – these are faster and more
be 400 Mbps (Megabits per second). The reliable than wireless connections. Fibre-Optic
bigger the bandwidth, the better the cables are also faster than Copper cables.
network performs. Wireless performance depends on the quality of
the signal and also interference from other radio
waves e.g. microwaves, physical obstructions like
thick walls in buildings.

Shared Bandwidth – too many users on your network are

sharing the bandwidth and this makes the connection very
slow. This happens more on Wi-Fi and Wireless Broadband
connections.
Users who stream videos or are downloading movies can
cause this congestion and slow down the network.
Task 5: Match these Network Components to their meanings and images
(Only use the correct 5 images) (5 marks)

A type of copper cable that connects the NIC to a Switch. Ethernet cable

A component that allows hardware devices to connect to Network router

a network.

A type of USB device that you can use to connect

Wireless dongle
wirelessly to network.

A type of device that allows multiple wireless devices to

connect to each other.

A type of device that allows network devices to gain

Wireless access
Internet connection.
point
 Task 6: Salma is working from home. She connects her laptop and
television to her Local Area Network (LAN). Salma uses a home router
to connect her LAN together. Her router can function as a router, a
switch and a wireless access point. (Total 10 marks)

a) State the name of the hardware device inside the laptop that connects it to the LAN. (1 mark)

- Ethernet NIC

b) Salma can connect her devices to the router using either Ethernet cables or Wireless access point. (2 marks)

c) Salma’s Television lacks any wireless capability. State the name of the hardware device Salma can use to allow her television
to connect to the LAN wirelessly. (1 mark)

- Wireless dongle

d) Salma’s router functions as a switch, router and Wireless Access Point (WAP) all in one. Describe the function of each of
these devices. (9 marks)
i) Switch: connects devices on a network.
ii) Router: stores the addresses of all devices to forward network traffic to destination.
iii) Wireless Access Point: allows devices with WiFi to connect to a wired network.
Task 7 Computer Network (Total 12 marks)

1. Define the term Local Area Network (LAN) (1 mark)

It is a network contained in a small are like a building.

2. Kuwait Technical Academy is connect to other schools in the area using a Wide Area Network (WAN) (1 mark)

Describe what is meant by WAN

Network that is spread over a large geographical area.

3. Explain one benefit of using a WAN to connect the Academy to other schools. (2 marks)
- many people would be able to access the internet as there is a higher range than LAN.

4. Explain three factors that can affect the performance of a network. (6 marks)

1 Bandwidth which is the number of bits that can be carried by a connection in one second.
2 the transfer method as there are differences between wired and wireless connections. For example, wired can carry more frequencies
than wireless connections.
3 Shared bandwidth because if there are many people on a network it could cause it to be slow.

5. Ahmed would like to transfer some photos and images from his laptop to his phone. Describe another type of network that he could
set up to transfer these files (2 marks)
Another type of network is the wireless personal area network which is a group of connected devices that are all near an individual user
while using wireless connectivity.