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Worksheet

F10.2 Network hardware and connections

Networks · GCSE · OCR J277 1.3.1, AQA 8525 3.5, Edexcel 1CP2 4.1.4 · about 15 min

BugBotLab
NameClassDate

What this lesson is about

NICs, switches, routers and access points; copper, fibre and wireless; Wi-Fi, Ethernet and Bluetooth.

Questions 6 marks in all

  1. [1 mark]Which device connects different networks together, such as a LAN to the internet?

    1. ARouter
    2. BSwitch
    3. CNIC
    4. DWireless access point

  2. [1 mark]How does a switch decide where to send a frame?

    1. AIt reads the destination MAC address
    2. BIt reads the destination IP address
    3. CIt sends it to every device
    4. DIt asks the router

  3. [1 mark]What does a wireless access point do?

    1. ALets devices connect to a wired network by radio
    2. BConnects a LAN to the internet
    3. CGives each device a MAC address
    4. DEncrypts files on a server

  4. [1 mark]Which is an advantage of fibre optic cable over copper?

    1. AIt carries data further without interference
    2. BIt is cheaper
    3. CIt is easier to bend
    4. DIt carries electrical signals

  5. [1 mark]Why must Wi-Fi be encrypted?

    1. AIts signals can be picked up by anyone in range
    2. BEncryption makes it faster
    3. CWi-Fi cannot work without it
    4. DIt stops interference

  6. [1 mark]What does this program print?

    table = {}
for port, src in [(1, "AA"), (3, "CC"), (2, "AA")]:
    table[src] = port
print(table)

The task: a learning switch

Complete the switch. For each frame in frames, learn which port its source is on. Then print frame to <destination>: port <n> if the destination is known, or frame to <destination>: every port if not. At the end, print learned <n> addresses.

# the two lines every program starts with: the commands, then the robot
from bugbot import *
connect()

# (port it came in on, source MAC, destination MAC)
frames = [
    (1, "AA-01", "BB-02"),
    (2, "BB-02", "AA-01"),
    (3, "CC-03", "AA-01"),
    (1, "AA-01", "CC-03"),
    (4, "DD-04", "BB-02"),
]
table = {}

Plan your program here, then type it in and press Run.

QR code
Do it on the robot
www.bugbotlab.com/learn/f10-2-network-hardware-and-connections/
The simulator checks it and tells you when it passes. Nothing to install, no account.

Challenges

  1. A hub is an older device that sends every frame out of every port. Count how many frames a hub would have sent to the wrong device.
  2. Add a frame from a device that has moved to a different port. What should the switch do?
  3. A school is building a new sports hall 400 m away. Recommend copper, fibre or wireless for the link, with two reasons.