Unit 4 Networking

Software or hardware used to manage email. Popular software email clients such as Microsoft Outlook and Eudora are also known as mail user agents (MUAs).

email client

What an organization's intranet becomes when the organization allows outsiders to access its intranet.

extranet

A group of commonly understood rules of politeness and respect used when communicating online.

netiquette

Two or more devices connected together.

network

A person who manages a computer network; he or she designed its topology and adjusts it as needed to suit the organization's needs.

network administrator

The design of a computer network, which specifies how devices communicate with one another. The most common network architecture types are client/server and peer-to-peer.

network architecture

A card that enables one computer to send and receive data to and from another computer.

network interface card (NIC)

A set of programs used to manage and secure a network.

network operating system (NOS)

The rules of initiating, interrupting, and continuing communication on a computer network.

network protocols

A public forum that consists of articles and follow-up comments on one or more specified subjects.

newsgroup

A computer dedicated to providing one service (such as web hosting, disk storage, and so on) and that is shared by many users across a network.

server

A computer that provides information or services to other computers.

server

A LAN topology wherein two star networks are linked using a bus.

star bus topology

A topology with one central node that has each computer or network device attached to the central node. All data first goes into the central node and then is sent out to its destination. (Think of it like a bicycle wheel with spokes.)

star topology

A type of hub that uses a table to keep track of destinations so that data can be sent directly to its destination, rather than to every computer on the network before the destination machine receives it.

switch

A network layout in which each individual node is connected to two others, with the first and last coming back to connect to each other, thus completing the ring shape.

token ring topology

The study of how items are related to one another in space; a configuration.

topology

The most commonly used kind of networking cable today.

twisted-pair cable

A type of network where the computers are far apart—in different buildings, different cities, or even different countries.

wide area network (WAN)

Data transmission that uses radio frequencies instead of cabling.

wireless communication

The primary networking technology currently in use. Ethernet defines standards for addressing packets and data and a method for avoiding data conflicts on the network.

Ethernet

One particular protocol that allows files to be transferred through a network.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

The networking protocol used by the World Wide Web. It defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and the actions web servers must take in response to requests received from clients.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

A protocol used to retrieve email messages. ________is similar to POP3, but with some advanced features. The main difference between the two is that _____generally leaves the email on the mail server.

Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)

A unique set of numbers assigned to a specific computer that is connected to the Internet. This is similar to a house's street address.

Internet Protocol (IP) address

A service that allows many people in different places to "chat" by typing messages in real time, usually in a chat room.

Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

A company that sells and manages consumer access to the Internet.

Internet service provider (ISP)

A protocol used to retrieve email from a mail server. _____is a later iteration of the protocol, and can be used with or without SMTP.

Post Office Protocol (POP)

An Internet-standard protocol for sending email messages between servers on IP networks. Because _______is generally used to send messages from a mail client to a mail server, you should specify both the POP or IMAP server and the ______server when configuring an email application.

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)

The set of networking rules that control how data is sent from one specific machine (as defined by its IP address) to another.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Large fiber-optic cables (or bundles of them) that move much of the data packets on the Internet from one place to another.

backbone

The central core of a network, this connection can link many smaller networks to a larger network.

backbone

Often called a network switch, this connects many parts of a network and directs traffic as needed

bridge

An Internet connection that is made using a modem but is always on (dialing in to establish a connection is not needed).

broadband

A network layout in which there is one main trunk, or backbone, that all the various computers and network devices are connected to.

bus topology

A computer that connects to a server computer.

client

A computer intended to be used by one person at a time.

client workstation

A network architecture in which each computer is either a client or a server. Servers are powerful computers dedicated to managing the clients. Clients are PCs on which users run applications. Clients rely on servers for resources..

client/server network

A type of electrical cable often used to transmit cable TV.

coaxial cable

A type of Internet connection that uses phone lines but transmits signals digitally across an always-open connection.

digital subscriber line (DSL)

A name that identifies a computer network on the Internet.

domain name

An electronic message that can be sent with or without file attachments such as word processing documents, spreadsheets, and pictures.

electronic mail (email)

Cable that uses light guided through thin glass tubes, instead of electrical signals, to transmit data. It is very fast but also expensive.

fiber-optic cable

A piece of hardware or software on a network designed to limit access to certain machines to authorized users only.

firewall

To send an abusive or personally insulting message.

flame

A central point on a network where computers can connect. The central point is often a switch rather than a ___.

hub

A form of Internet chat that is conducted one-on-one through private online chat areas. A user creates a list of other users with whom he or she wants to communicate.

instant messaging

A type of Internet connection that uses standard circuit-switched phone lines to send digital data.

integrated services digital network (ISDN)

A private network that looks and functions a lot like the Internet but is typically available only to the employees of an organization.

intranet

A type of network where computers are close together, typically in the same building or office.

local area network (LAN)

Any receiving point in a computer network.

node

The small unit into which information is broken down before being sent across a network.

packet

A network architecture where all computers have equal responsibilities and all computers can share files with each other.

peer-to-peer (P2P) network

A device that links two computer networks or links a local area network to the Internet. A router reads packet addresses and routes packets.

router

Networking hardware responsible for keeping data from going where it doesn't need to go while getting it where it should go.

router