Networking common mistakes

Common mistakes

• Confusing physical and logical topology

  Calling a network physically bus because it uses a bus protocol, even though each device is separately connected to a central switch.

  Fix itClassify the physical arrangement separately from the communication behaviour: separate links to a central switch indicate physical star, while bus operation indicates logical bus.

• Confusing equal status with client-server roles

  Saying that a peer-to-peer network has a nominated central server, or that all computers in a client-server network have equal status.

  Fix itState that peer-to-peer computers have equal status. In a client-server network, clients request services from one or more nominated servers.

• Confusing CSMA/CA with CSMA/CD

  Describing a wireless device as detecting a collision after transmitting and then retransmitting, which is the collision-detection approach.

  Fix itFor this wireless requirement, describe CSMA/CA: the device senses the channel before transmission and waits when the channel is busy. If required, include the RTS/CTS exchange.