Types of Networks
- Definitions of LAN, WAN and the distinction between them
- Advantages and disadvantages of networking in general compared with stand-alone systems
- Advantages and disadvantages of networking in a particular situation
- Definition of Bandwidth. Importance of bandwidth
- Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)
LAN
- Network topologies – Star, Bus, Ring, peer-peer
- Advantages and disadvantages of each of the main types of network
- Factors affecting speeds of networks
- How signals are passed and controlled in each of the network types
- The client-server
WAN
- Analogue and digital signals. Roles of the modem and multiplexer. Time Division Multiplexing (TDM). Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM). ISDN
- Polling individual workstations
- Switching techniques – circuit, message, packet
- EDI. Uses made by business. Advantages compared with traditional communications
- EFT. Uses made by business. Advantages compared with traditional payment methods
- ATM usage by banks. The sequence of events WITHIN THE COMPUTER for a successful transaction in TECHNICAL terms
Internet
- Its origins
- Business use of internet
- Uniform Resource Locators (URL). Domain name. Domain name suffix. IP address
- Components of the Internet. WWW. E-mail, File Transfer Protocol Servers, News
- Use of internet by individuals
- Use of internet by business and organisations
- Setting up your own domain name
- Search engines. Structuring queries to eliminate irrelevant information
- Cookies
- Affects on society – good and bad
- Registering for e-mail and logging on
- The e-mail system as seen by the user
- How to send and receive e-mail. Attachments
- Options open to the user on receiving an e-mail message
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and JAVAscript
- Purpose of the HTML language
- Format of the HTML language
- Simple web pages in HTML
- Javascript. Applets. Simple examples
Data transfers
- Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
- File transfer Protocol (FTP)
- Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
- JPEG, MPEG formats
Control of a network and its security
- Role of the network supervisor/manager
- Password systems. Allocation of passwords. Levels of access
- Network threats. Viruses and their control
- Hacking. Firewall
- Encryption. Public key encryption
Example Candidate Response Booklet
Example Candidate Response (ECR) Booklets are a source of crucial information for Centres and Candidates as they use real candidate responses. We ask Senior Examiners to comment on five or more responses in terms of why the mark was awarded with commentary about how to improve the answer (if necessary).
