According to the material, how many things does a computer need on a network?

According to the material, how many things does a computer need on a network?

• A. Two
• B. Three
• C. Four
• D. Five

Answer: (C)

Think of what a device needs to participate on a network: a way to connect, a way to be identified on the network, a definition of which part is local, and a route to reach other networks. Those four pieces are the network interface (the NIC or wireless adapter) to physically connect; an IP address to identify the computer on the network; a subnet mask to separate the local network from other networks; and a default gateway to forward traffic destined for outside the local network. DNS or other services are useful but not strictly required for basic network presence, whereas without a NIC, an IP, a subnet, or a gateway the device can’t communicate on a network at all. So four things are needed.

Think of what a device needs to participate on a network: a way to connect, a way to be identified on the network, a definition of which part is local, and a route to reach other networks. Those four pieces are the network interface (the NIC or wireless adapter) to physically connect; an IP address to identify the computer on the network; a subnet mask to separate the local network from other networks; and a default gateway to forward traffic destined for outside the local network. DNS or other services are useful but not strictly required for basic network presence, whereas without a NIC, an IP, a subnet, or a gateway the device can’t communicate on a network at all. So four things are needed.