Term
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Definition
| An Ethernet standard that operates at 100Mbps and uses twisted-pair cabling up to 100 meters (328 feet). |
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Term
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Definition
| An outdated Ethernet standard that operates at 10 Mbps and uses small coaxial cable up to 500 meters long. |
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Term
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Definition
| An outdated Ethernet standard that operates at 10 Mbps and uses thick coaxial cable up to 500 meters long. |
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Term
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Definition
| An Ethernet standard that operates at 10 Mbps and uses twisted-pair cables up to 100 meters |
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Term
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Definition
| The ability to use your cell phone to browse the Web, stream music and video, play online games, and use instant messaging and video conferencing. |
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Term
| IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n (802.11b/g/n) |
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Definition
| Specifications for wireless communication and data synchronization. Also known as Wi-Fi. Standards are current. Apple Computer’s versions are called AirPort and AirPort Extreme. |
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Term
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Definition
| A device connected to a LAN that provides wireless communication so that computers, printers, and other wireless devices can communicate with devices on the LAN |
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Term
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Definition
| The term Apple computers use to describe the IEEE 802.11b standard. |
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Term
| Automatic Private IP Address (APIPA) |
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Definition
| An IP address in the address range 169.254.x.y, used by a computer when it cannot successfully lease an IP address from a DHCP server. |
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Term
| bandwidth (data throughput) |
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Definition
| In relation to analog communication, the range of frequencies that a communications channel or cable can carry. In general use, the term refers to the volume of data that can travel on a bus or over a cable stated in bits per second (bps), kilobits per second (Kbps), or megabits per second (Mbps). Also called data throughput or line speed. |
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Term
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Definition
| A fixed transceiver and antenna used to create one cell within a cellular network. |
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Term
| connectionless protocol (best-effort protocol) |
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Definition
| A protocol such as UDP that does not require a connection before sending a packet and does not guarantee delivery. An example of a UDP transmission is streaming video over the Web. |
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Term
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Definition
| A standard for wireless communication and data synchronization between devices, developed by a group of electronics manufacturers. Uses the same frequency range as 802.11b, but does not have as wide a range. |
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Term
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Definition
| A connector used with thin coaxial cable. Some BNC connectors are T-shaped and called T-connectors. One end of the T connects to the NIC, and the two other ends can connect to cables or end a bus formation with a terminator. |
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Term
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Definition
| A transmission technique that carries more than one type of transmission on the same medium, such as voice and DSL on a regular telephone line. |
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Term
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Definition
| A technology that uses cable TV lines for data transmission requiring a modem at each end. From the modem, a network cable connects to a NIC in the user’s PC, or a USB cable connects to a USB port. |
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Term
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Definition
| A rating used for UTP cable that is less expensive than the more popular CAT-5 cable. |
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Term
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Definition
| A rating used for UTP cable. Required for Fast Ethernet. |
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Term
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Definition
| A rating used for UTP cables that has less crosstalk than CAT-5 or CAT-5e cables. |
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Term
| CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) |
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Definition
| A protocol standard used by cellular WANs and cell phones. |
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Term
| cellular network (cellular WAN) |
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Definition
| A network that can be used when a wireless network must cover a wide area. The network is made up of cells, each controlled by a base station. |
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Term
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Definition
| A subnet mask that contain all ones or all zeroes in an octet. For example, 11111111.11111111.11111111.00000000 or 255.255.255.0. |
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Term
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Definition
| A subnet mask that can have a mix of zeroes and ones in one octet. For example, 11111111.11111111.11110000.00000000 or 255.255.240.0. |
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Term
| client/server applications |
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Definition
| An application that has two components. The client software requests data from the server software on the same or another computer. |
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Term
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Definition
Networking cable used with10-Mbps
Ethernet ThinNet or ThickNet. |
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Term
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Definition
| Character-based host name or NetBIOS name assigned to a computer. |
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Term
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Definition
| A protocol such as UDP that does not require a connection before sending a packet and does not guarantee delivery. An example of a UDP transmission is streaming video over the Web. |
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Term
| connection-oriented protocol |
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Definition
| In networking, a protocol that confirms that a good connection has been made before transmitting data to the other end. An example of a connection-oriented protocol is TCP. |
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Term
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Definition
| A cable used to connect two PCs into the simplest network possible. Also used to connect two hubs to two switches. |
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Term
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Definition
| The gateway a computer on a network will use to access another network unless it knows to specifically use another gateway for quicker access to that network. |
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Term
| DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) |
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Definition
| A protocol used by a server to assign dynamic IP addresses to computers on a network when they first access the network. |
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Term
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Definition
| A device that connects networks and makes decisions as to the best routes to use when forwarding packets. |
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Term
| Service Set Identifier (SSID) |
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Definition
| The name of the access point for a wireless network. |
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Term
| shielded twisted pair (STP) cable |
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Definition
| A cable that is made of one or more twisted pairs of wires and is surrounded by a metal shield. |
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Term
| SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) |
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Definition
| The protocol used by e-mail clients and servers to send e-mail messages over the Internet. |
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Term
| SMTP AUTH (SMTP Authentication) |
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Definition
| A protocol that is used to authenticate or prove that a client who attempts to use an email server to send email is authorized to use the server. The protocol is based on the Simple Authentication and Security Layer (SASL) protocol. |
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Term
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Definition
| Lights on the back of a NIC that indicate connectivity and network activity. |
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Term
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Definition
| A group of four numbers (dotted decimal numbers) that tell TCP/IP if a remote computer is on the same or a different network. |
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Term
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Definition
| A Windows utility that uses a modem and telephone line to connect to a network. |
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Term
| DNS (Domain Name System or Domain Name Service) |
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Definition
| A distributed pool of information (called the name space) that keeps track of assigned host names and domain names and their corresponding IP addresses, and the system that allows a host to locate information in the pool. |
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Term
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Definition
| A computer that can find an IP address for another computer when only the fully qualified domain name is known. |
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Term
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Definition
| A unique, text-based name that identifies a network. |
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Term
| DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) |
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Definition
| A telephone line that carries digital data from end to end, and is used as a type of broadband Internet access. |
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Term
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Definition
| An assigned IP address that is used for the current session only. When the session is terminated, the IP address is returned to the list of available addresses. |
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Term
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Definition
| A improved version of CAT-5 cable that reduces crosstalk. |
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Term
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Definition
| A dedicated, leased line used for Internet access that uses fiber-optic cable from the ISP to residence or place of business. |
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Term
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Definition
| Cable that transmits signals as pulses of light over glass strands inside protected tubing. |
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Term
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Definition
| Hardware or software that protects a computer or network from unauthorized access. |
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Term
| FTP (File Transfer Protocol) |
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Definition
| The protocol used to transfer files over a TCP/IP network. |
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Term
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Definition
| Communication that happens in two directions at the same time. |
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Term
| fully qualified domain name (FQDN) |
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Definition
| A host name and a domain name such as jsmith.amazon.com. Sometimes loosely referred to as a domain name. |
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Term
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Definition
| A computer or other device that connects networks. |
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Term
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Definition
| A version of Ethernet that supports rates of data transfer up to 1 gigabit per second. |
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Term
| GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) |
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Definition
| An open standard for cellular WANs and cell phones that uses digital communication of data and is accepted and used worldwide. |
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Term
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Definition
| Communication between two devices whereby transmission takes place in only one direction at a time. |
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Term
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Definition
| A name that identifies a computer, printer, or other device on a network. Together with the domain name is called the fully qualified domain name. |
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Term
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Definition
| A file in the C:\Windows\System32\ drivers\etc folder that contains computer names and their associated IP addresses on the local network. The file has no file extension. |
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Term
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer
Protocol) |
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Definition
| The communications protocol used by the World Wide Web. |
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Term
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Definition
| A version of the HTTP protocol that includes data encryption for security. |
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Term
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Definition
| A network device or box that provides a central location to connect cables and distributes incoming data packets to all other devices connected to it. |
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Term
| IMAP4 (Internet Message Access Protocol, version 4) |
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Definition
| Version 4 of the IMAP protocol, which is an e-mail protocol used to download incoming email and has more functionality than its predecessor, POP. IMAP can archive messages in folders on the e- mail server and can allow the user to choose not to download attachments. |
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Term
| Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) |
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Definition
| A nonprofit organization that develops standards for the computer and electronics industries. |
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Term
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Definition
| A device that plugs into a computer and works like a cell phone to connect to a cellular WAN to give your computer Internet access. |
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Term
| Internet Service Provider (ISP) |
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Definition
| A commercial group that provides Internet access for a monthly fee; AOL, Earthlink, and Comcast are large ISPs. |
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Term
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Definition
| A private network that uses the TCP/IP protocols. |
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Term
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Definition
| A 32-bit address consisting of four numbers separated by periods, used to uniquely identify a device on a network that uses TCP/IP protocols. The first numbers identify the network; the last numbers identify a host. |
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Term
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Definition
| A device used to segment a network. It can decide which network segment is to receive a packet, on the basis of the packet’s destination MAC address. |
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Term
| TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) |
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Definition
| Part of the TCP/IP protocol suite. Guarantees delivery of data for application protocols and establishes a session before it begins transmitting data. |
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Term
| TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) |
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Definition
| The suite of protocols that supports communication on the Internet. Responsible for error checking and responsible for routing. |
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Term
| TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) |
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Definition
| A protocol standard used by cellular WANs and cell phones. |
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Term
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Definition
| A Windows command-line client/server application that allows an administrator or other user to control a computer remotely. |
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Term
| ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) |
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Definition
| A broadband telephone line that can carry data at about five times the speed of regular telephone lines. Two channels (telephone numbers) share a single pair of wires. |
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Term
| LAN (local area network) latency |
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Definition
| A computer network that covers only a small area, usually within one building. |
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Term
MAC (Media Access Control) address
adapter address - hardware address -physical address |
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Definition
| A 48-bit hardware address unique to each NIC card or onboard network controller and assigned by the manufacturer. The address is often printed on the adapter as hexadecimal numbers. An example is 00 00 0C 08 2F 35. |
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Term
| MAN (metropolitan area network) |
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Definition
| A network that covers a large campus or city. |
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Term
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Definition
| A process in which a message is sent by one host to multiple hosts, such as when a video conference is broadcast to several hosts on the Internet. |
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Term
| multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) |
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Definition
| A feature of the IEEE 802.11n standard for wireless networking whereby two or more antennas are used at both ends of transmissions to improve performance. |
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Term
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Definition
| The process of associating a character-based computer name to an IP address. |
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Term
| NAT (Network Address Translation) |
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Definition
| A protocol used to convert private IP addresses on a LAN to a public IP address before a data packet is sent over the Internet. |
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Term
| NetBIOS (Network Basic Input/Output System) |
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Definition
| An API protocol used by some applications to communicate over a NetBEUI network. Has been replaced by Windows Sockets over a TCP/IP network. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A computer name with a maximum of 15 characters that is suitable for use by the NetBIOS protocol. |
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Term
network interface card (NIC)
network adapter |
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Definition
| An expansion card that plugs into a computer’s motherboard and provides a port on the back of the card to connect a PC to a network. |
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Term
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Definition
| Term for each of the four 8-bit numbers that make up an IP address. |
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Term
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Definition
| egment of network data that also includes header, destination address, and trailer information that is sent as a unit. |
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Term
| PAN (personal area network) |
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Definition
| A small network consisting of personal devices at close range; the devices can include cell phones, PDAs, and notebook computers. |
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Term
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Definition
| A network cable that is used to connect a PC to a hub, switch, or router. |
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Term
| Ping (packet internet groper) |
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Definition
| A Windows and Unix command used to troubleshoot network connections. It verifies that the host can communicate with another host on the network. |
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Term
| POP3 (Post Office Protocol, version 3) |
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Definition
| The most recent version of the protocol that an e-mail server and client use when the client requests the downloading of e-mail messages. |
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Term
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Definition
| A physical connector, usually at the back of a computer, that allows a cable from a peripheral device, such as a printer, mouse, or modem, to be attached. |
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Term
| port address (I/O address) |
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Definition
Numbers that are used by devices and
the CPU to manage communication between them. |
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Term
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Definition
| As applied to services running on a computer, a number assigned to a process on a computer so that the process can be found by TCP/IP. |
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Term
| PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) |
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Definition
| A protocol that governs the methods for communicating via modems and dial-up telephone lines |
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Term
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Definition
| An IP address that is used on a private TCP/IP network that is isolated from the Internet. |
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Term
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Definition
| An IP address available to the Internet. |
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Term
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Definition
| A phone line connection found on modems, telephones, and house phone outlets. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A connector used with twisted-pair cable that connects the cable to the NIC. |
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Term
| UDP (User Datagram Protocol) |
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Definition
| A connectionless protocol that does not require a connection to send a packet and does not guarantee that the packet arrives at its destination. Is faster than TCP because TCP takes the time to make a connection and guarantee delivery. |
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Term
| unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable |
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Definition
| A cable that is made of one or more twisted pairs of wires and is not surrounded by shielding. |
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Term
| virtual private network (VPN) |
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Definition
| A security technique that uses encrypted data packets between a private network and a computer somewhere on the Internet |
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Term
|
Definition
| A network or group of networks that span a large geographical area. |
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Term
| WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) |
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Definition
| A data encryption method used on wireless networks that uses either 64-bit or 128-bit encryption keys that are static keys, meaning the key does not change while the wireless network is in use. |
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Term
| Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) |
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Definition
| IEEE specifications for wireless communication and data synchronization. IEEE b/g/n standards are current, and IEEE 802.11a is outdated. Apple Computer’s versions of 802.11 standards are called AirPort and AirPort Extreme. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A type of LAN that does not use wires or cables to create connections, but instead transmits data over radio or infrared waves. |
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Term
| WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) |
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Definition
| A data encryption method for wireless networks that use the TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) encryption method and the encryption keys are changed at set intervals while the wireless LAN is in use. |
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Term
| WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) |
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Definition
| A data encryption standard compliant with the IEEE802.11i standard that uses the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) protocol. Currently the strongest wireless encryption standard. |
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