Networking Terms
Address Resolution
Protocol (ARP): A
method used by TCP/IP that dynamically or automatically translates IP addresses
into physical network addresses such as Ethernet Ids or Token Ring MAC
addresses.
Attenuation: The amount of signal loss that occurs as
signals travel through wire.
Bandwidth: Range of transmission frequencies. Telecommunication device’s data transfer
rate.
Baseband: Relating to a communications system, which
carries only a single message at a time over wire. Ethernet uses baseband technology.
Bridge: Used to connect LAN segments, its primary
purpose is to filter traffic between segments reducing network traffic and
improving overall network performance.
Broadband: Relating to a communications system such as
cable modem or ATM networks that carry multiple messages over wire, each
message traveling on its own frequency.
Bus network topology: A network design in which nodes are
connected in line with one another, with no centralized point of character.
Coaxial: cable that takes its name from its physical
characteristics. Coax has a central
conductive core that carries the data signal. This core is surrounded by an
insulator than a foil or braided mesh shield, which acts as the signal ground.
Collision: In an Ethernet network, a collision occurs
when two nodes attempt to communicate at exactly the same time. This requires
both nodes to retransmit.
Connection protocol: In networking, confirming that a good
connection is made before transmitting data to the other end. To accomplish this, most network
applications use TCP rather than UDP.
Dial-Up Networking
(DUN): A
Windows application that allows a PC to remotely connect to a network through a
phone line.
Ethernet: The most popular network topology used
today. It can be physically configured
as a bus or star network.
Firewall: A security device used to limit traffic
between a private network and the Internet.
Full-duplex: Data can be transmitted in both directions
at the same time. It requires dual communication paths between two devices.
Gateway: A device or process that translates protocol
types between networks.
Half-duplex: Data can be transmitted in both directions,
but not at the same time. The most
commonly used in PC network communication.
Internet work: Two or more networks connected together such
as a LAN and a WAN joined together.
IP (Internet
Protocol) address: A network protocol that provides routing
services across multiple LANs and WANs that is used in the TCP/IP protocol
stack. It is used to identify a host
system on the Internet or a TCP/IP based private network.
LAN: Local area network.
Limited token: Applies to a FDDI network. A token sent that allows a receiving station
to communicate only with the sending stations, thus providing continuous
communication between the two stations.
MAC: (media access control): An element of data-link layer protocol that
provides compatibility with the NIC used by the physical layer. A network card address is often called a MAC
address.
NetBEUI (NetBIOS Extended User Interface): A communications protocol that was primarily
used by Microsoft networks.
It is a small, non-routable protocol typically found in small networks.
It provides support for legacy network devices and is seldom installed when
supporting new networks.
Network interface card (NIC): A network
adapter board that plugs into a computer’s system board and provides a port on
the back of the card to
connect a PC to a network.
Node: Each computer, workstation, or device on a
network.
Open Systems Interconnect (OSI): A seven-layer
(application, presentation, session, transport, network, data-link, physical)
model of communications supported by a network.
Refers to software and firmware only.
PING – Packet Internet Groper, a
utility to determine whether a specific IP address is
accessible. It works by sending a packet to the specified
address and waiting for a reply. PING is used primarily to troubleshoot Internet connections.
There are many freeware
and shareware PING
utilities available for personal computers.
PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol): A
common way PCs with modems can connect to an Internet. The Windows Dial-Up
Networking utility, found under My Computer, uses PPP.
Protocol: A set of pre-established rules for
communication. Examples of protocols are modem parity settings and the way in
which header and trailer information in a data packet is formatted.
Repeater: A device that amplifies the signal level on
a cable and is used to extend cable length.
The repeater boosts any signal found on the cable including electronic
noise.
Ring
Network Architecture: Connects
nodes in a circle. Packets travel
around the circle and through each computer before moving on to the next
one.
RJ-45 connector: A connector used on an Ethernet 10BaseT
(twisted-pair cable) network. An RJ-45 port looks similar to a large phone
jack.
Router: A device or box
that connects networks. The connection keeps traffic local to its sub network,
only passing traffic destined for a different network, therefore reducing
network traffic.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer
Protocol: A common protocol used to send e-mail across
a network.
Socket: A virtual
connection from one computer to another such as that between a client and a
server. Higher-level protocols such as HTTP use a socket to pass data between
two computers. A socket is assigned a number for the current session, which is
used by the high-level protocol.
Star network architecture: Cables run from
each node into a central hub device.
Electronic signals are sent from each node, to the hub, and then on to
the remaining computers on the network.
Static IP addresses: IP addresses
permanently assigned to a workstation.
Static routing: When routing
tables do not automatically change and must be manually edited. Windows NT and
Windows 95 support only static routing.
Switch: a multi-port intelligent hub.
One of its main uses is to divide networks into segments to reduce
network traffic overhead.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol): A routable protocol that can efficiently support
networks of nearly any size. It supports network communication and includes a
number of troubleshooting and support utilities.
Token: A small frame on a Token Ring network that
constantly travels around the ring in only one direction. When a station seizes
the token, it controls the channel until its message is sent.
Transceiver: The bi-directional (transmitter and
receiver) component on a NIC that is responsible for signal conversion and
monitors for data collision.
Twisted Pair cable: Cable that has two or more paired wires. The wires are given a half-twist
periodically to reduce crosstalk.
WAN: Wide area network.