Networks and Online Communication
Network fundamentals
Know the difference between LAN, WAN, PAN and the internet, and between client-server and peer-to-peer models. Describe the roles of the router (forwards traffic between networks), switch (forwards within a LAN), access point (wireless), modem, firewall and NIC. Understand IP addressing at a conceptual level, DHCP for automatic configuration, DNS for name resolution, and the idea of bandwidth versus latency. Wired connections typically offer stability and speed; wireless offers mobility with interference and security trade-offs.
Protocols and the web
Match protocols to purpose: HTTP/HTTPS for web, SMTP/IMAP for mail, FTP/SFTP for file transfer, and TCP versus UDP for reliability versus speed. Explain encryption via TLS and why HTTPS matters. Know what a URL, domain name and IP address are, and that packets may take different routes and be reassembled.
Online communication and etiquette
Compare synchronous (video calls, chat) and asynchronous (email, forums) tools, and choose appropriately for urgency, record-keeping and audience. Discuss netiquette, accessibility of shared documents, digital footprints, cyberbullying and responsible use of collaborative platforms.
Traps in questions
- Confusing a router with a switch, or DNS with DHCP.
- Claiming a firewall stops all threats, including phishing links a user clicks.
- Treating bandwidth as the only measure of performance; latency and congestion matter.
- Ignoring that HTTPS encrypts traffic in transit but says nothing about the trustworthiness of the site.
- Forgetting that wireless networks need encryption (WPA2/WPA3) and a changed default password.
Worked rule of thumb
Diagnose connectivity in layers: physical link, then IP address (is DHCP working?), then name resolution (does DNS resolve?), then application (does the port respond?). This order isolates the fault quickly.