Computer Network Terms
Bandwidth - the rated throughput capacity of a given network media or protocol. The amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time.
Backbone - A high-speed link joining together several networks.
Bit – A unit of information having just two possible values, as either of the binary digits 0 or 1.
Byte - a series of consecutive binary digits that are operated upon as a unit. There are 8 bits in a byte.
Category 5 (cat 5) cable -A type of twisted pair network wiring in which there is a certain number of twists per foot. It is the most commonly used network cabling.
Coaxial Cable - A type of cable consisting of two insulating layers and two conductors most commonly used in older networks.
Collision - An attempt by two devices to transmit over the network at the same time usually resulting in the data being lost.
DNS (Domain Name System) – an internet service that translates domain names into IP addresses. Dynamic DNS - A method of keeping a domain name linked to a changing IP address using a pool of available IP addresses so you can use applications that require a static IP address.
Domain - A group of computers and devices on a network that are administered as a unit.
DHCP ( Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol )– A TCP/IP protocol that dynamically assigns an IP address to a computer. Dynamic addressing simplifies network administration because the software keeps track of IP addresses rather than requiring a network administrator to do so.
Ethernet - Ethernet is the most widely installed local area network technology. It was developed during the late 1970s through a partnership of DEC, Intel, and Xerox.
Fiber Optic –A cable technology that uses glass (or plastic) threads (fibers) to transmit data. It is a very fast technology
Gateway - A device on a network that serves as an entrance to another network and routes traffic
Hardware (MAC) address – A unique address associated with a particular network device
Hub - A common connection point for computers and devices in a network that takes an incoming signal and repeats it on all other ports
Internet - Term used to refer to the world's largest internetwork, connecting thousands of networks worldwide. Also known as the world wide web (www)
IP address - a 32-bit address assigned to hosts using the TCP/IP protocol. Each computer/device on the public internet has a unique IP address. An example of an IP address is 192.168.1.
LAN (Local Area Network) – computer/data network which is confined in a limited geographical area.
MAC Address (Media Access Control) - A unique identifier attached to most forms of networking equipment. It is burned into the device and cannot be changed
Megabyte - A unit of measure for memory or hard disk storage capacity. 1024 megabytes = 1 gigabyte.
Network - A group of computers and devices that can communicate with each other and share resources.
Network Interface Card (NIC) – A hardware device inside a computer or other network device that enables communication with a network.
Packet - The unit of data sent across a network. Data is broken up into packets for sending over a packet switching network.
PING (Packet Internet Groper) – A command used to test connectivity to a device over a TCP/IP network.
Protocol – Rules determining the format and transmission of data over a network
RJ-45 - Standard connectors used for unshielded twisted-pair cable. Most commonly used with Cat5 network cabling.
Route – A path through an internetwork.
Router – A device that routes/forwards data across a networks.
Server - A computer that handles requests for data, email, files, and other network services from other computers (clients)
Subnet - A portion of a network that shares a common address component but is on a different segment than the rest of the network.
TI Line – A high speed dedicated data line that supports a transmission rate of 1.544 Mbps
TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A suite of protocols used as the basis of the nation's internetwork (Internet). It can also be used on internal networks.
UNC (Universal Naming Convention) Path - A UNC provides a naming convention for identifying network resources. UNC names consist of three parts, a server name, a share name, and an optional file path.
WAN (wide area network) - A network linking together networks located in other geographic areas.
Bandwidth - the rated throughput capacity of a given network media or protocol. The amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time.
Backbone - A high-speed link joining together several networks.
Bit – A unit of information having just two possible values, as either of the binary digits 0 or 1.
Byte - a series of consecutive binary digits that are operated upon as a unit. There are 8 bits in a byte.
Category 5 (cat 5) cable -A type of twisted pair network wiring in which there is a certain number of twists per foot. It is the most commonly used network cabling.
Coaxial Cable - A type of cable consisting of two insulating layers and two conductors most commonly used in older networks.
Collision - An attempt by two devices to transmit over the network at the same time usually resulting in the data being lost.
DNS (Domain Name System) – an internet service that translates domain names into IP addresses. Dynamic DNS - A method of keeping a domain name linked to a changing IP address using a pool of available IP addresses so you can use applications that require a static IP address.
Domain - A group of computers and devices on a network that are administered as a unit.
DHCP ( Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol )– A TCP/IP protocol that dynamically assigns an IP address to a computer. Dynamic addressing simplifies network administration because the software keeps track of IP addresses rather than requiring a network administrator to do so.
Ethernet - Ethernet is the most widely installed local area network technology. It was developed during the late 1970s through a partnership of DEC, Intel, and Xerox.
Fiber Optic –A cable technology that uses glass (or plastic) threads (fibers) to transmit data. It is a very fast technology
Gateway - A device on a network that serves as an entrance to another network and routes traffic
Hardware (MAC) address – A unique address associated with a particular network device
Hub - A common connection point for computers and devices in a network that takes an incoming signal and repeats it on all other ports
Internet - Term used to refer to the world's largest internetwork, connecting thousands of networks worldwide. Also known as the world wide web (www)
IP address - a 32-bit address assigned to hosts using the TCP/IP protocol. Each computer/device on the public internet has a unique IP address. An example of an IP address is 192.168.1.
LAN (Local Area Network) – computer/data network which is confined in a limited geographical area.
MAC Address (Media Access Control) - A unique identifier attached to most forms of networking equipment. It is burned into the device and cannot be changed
Megabyte - A unit of measure for memory or hard disk storage capacity. 1024 megabytes = 1 gigabyte.
Network - A group of computers and devices that can communicate with each other and share resources.
Network Interface Card (NIC) – A hardware device inside a computer or other network device that enables communication with a network.
Packet - The unit of data sent across a network. Data is broken up into packets for sending over a packet switching network.
PING (Packet Internet Groper) – A command used to test connectivity to a device over a TCP/IP network.
Protocol – Rules determining the format and transmission of data over a network
RJ-45 - Standard connectors used for unshielded twisted-pair cable. Most commonly used with Cat5 network cabling.
Route – A path through an internetwork.
Router – A device that routes/forwards data across a networks.
Server - A computer that handles requests for data, email, files, and other network services from other computers (clients)
Subnet - A portion of a network that shares a common address component but is on a different segment than the rest of the network.
TI Line – A high speed dedicated data line that supports a transmission rate of 1.544 Mbps
TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A suite of protocols used as the basis of the nation's internetwork (Internet). It can also be used on internal networks.
UNC (Universal Naming Convention) Path - A UNC provides a naming convention for identifying network resources. UNC names consist of three parts, a server name, a share name, and an optional file path.
WAN (wide area network) - A network linking together networks located in other geographic areas.
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