Unit 1.3 Mock Exam

Award 1 mark for the difference in Geography: LAN covers a small geographical area (e.g. building/site), whereas WAN covers a large geographical area (e.g. city/country).

Award alternative 1 mark for Ownership: LAN infrastructure is owned by the organisation, whereas a WAN leases infrastructure from 3rd party telecoms companies.

Award 1 mark each for any two of the following:

• Files and data are backed up centrally on the server.
• Software/Updates can be installed centrally on all clients at once.
• Security/Anti-virus can be managed centrally.
• Users can log in from any computer on the network to access their files.

Award 1 mark each:

1. It directs/transmits data packets to their destinations...
2. ...across different networks (e.g. connecting a LAN to a WAN/Internet).

Award 1 mark per valid point up to 3:

• The user's browser sends the URL domain name to the DNS server.
• The DNS checks its database/directory to find a matching IP Address.
• If it cannot find it, it forwards the request to a higher-level DNS server.
• The correct IP address is returned back to the user's browser to connect.

Award 1 mark for description: All devices/nodes are connected to a central hardware device (usually a switch).

Award 1 mark for advantage: If a cable fails down, only that specific computer loses connection / Fewer data collisions / Easy to add new nodes without disrupting the network.