Chapter 15 Review
CAT-3
(Category 3) A rating formally used for unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cables on a network, and is currently used for phone lines.
CAT-5
(Category 5) A rating used for unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cables and is rated for Fast Ethernet, but is seldom used today.
CAT-5e
(Category 5e) A rating used for unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cables, rated for Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet, and is popular today
CAT-6
(Category 6) A rating used for twisted-pair cables that has less crosstalk than CAT-5e cables. CAT-6 cables might contain a plastic cord down the center of the cable that helps to prevent crosstalk, but is less flexible and more difficult to install than CAT-5e.
CAT-6a
(Category 6a) A rating used for twistedpair cables that is thicker and faster than CAT-6 and rated for 10GBase-T (10-Gigabit Ethernet).
CAT-6e
(Category 6e) An unofficial name for CAT-6a
CAT-7
(Category 7) A rating used for twisted-pair cables that have shielding to almost completely eliminate crosstalk and improve noise reduction.
Patch panel
A device that provides multiple network ports for cables that converge in one location such as an electrical closet or server room.
Bridge
A device that stands between two segments of a network and manages network traffic between them.
Switch
A device used to connect nodes on a network in a star network topology. When it receives a packet, it uses its table of MAC addresses to decide where to send the packet.
Loopback plug
A device used to test a port in a computer or other device to make sure the port is working and might also test the throughput or speed of the port.
Power over Ethernet PoE
A feature that might be available on high-end wired network adapters that allows power to be transmitted over Ethernet cable to remote devices.
LC local connector
A fiber-optic cable connector that can be used with either single-mode or multimode fiber-optic cables and is easily terminated and smaller than an SC connector.
Base station
A fixed transceiver and antenna used to create one cell within a cellular network.
Keystone RJ-45 jack
A jack that is used in an RJ-45 wall jack.
network multimeter
A multifunctional tool that can test network connections, cables, ports, and network adapters.
LAN local area network
A network bound by routers that usually covers only a small area, such as one building.
Hub
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. Compare with switch.
WAN wide area network
A network or group of networks that span a large geographical area.
Cellular WAN
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. Also called a cellular WAN.
Cellular network
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. Also called a cellular WAN.
RJ-11 jack
A phone line connection or port found on modems, telephones, and house phone outlets.
PAN personal area network
A small network consisting of personal devices at close range; the devices can include smart phones, PDAs, and laptop computers.
Powerline networking
A technique to allow Ethernet transmissions over power lines. A powerline adapter is plugged into the electrical circuit(s) at both ends and the adapters connect to the Ethernet network. Because the transmissions are not contained, encryption is required for security. Also called Ethernet over Power (EoP).
DSL Digital Subscriber Line
A telephone line that carries digital data from end to end, and is used as a type of broadband Internet access.
Fast Ethernet
See 100BaseT.
Data throughput
See bandwidth.
Ethernet over Power EoP
See powerline networking.
Patch cable
See straight-through cable.
Toner probe
See tone probe.
Types
of Networks and the Internet Connections They Use
F connector
A connector used with an RG-6 coaxial cable and is used for connections to a TV and has a single copper wire.
BNC connector
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.
Repeater
A device that amplifies and retransmits a wireless signal to a wider coverage area and uses a new network name for the rebroadcast.
PoE injector
A device that adds power to an Ethernet cable so the cable can provide power to a device.
Extender
A device that amplifies and retransmits a wireless signal to a wider coverage area and retains the original network name.
ifconfig interface configuration
A Linux and OS X command similar to the Windows ipconfig command that displays details about network interfaces and can enable and disable an interface. When affecting the interface, the command requires root privileges.
Tracert trace route
A TCP/IP command that enables you to resolve a connectivity problem when attempting to reach a destination host such as a website.
nslookup namespace lookup
A TCP/IP command that lets you read information from the Internet namespace by requesting information about domain name resolutions from the DNS server's zone data.
Ping packet internet groper
A TCP/IP command used to troubleshoot network connections. It verifies that the host can communicate with another host on the network. Stands for Packet InterNet Groper.
netstat network statistics
A Windows TCP/ IP command that gives statistics about TCP/ IP and network activity and includes several parameters.
Net localgroup
A Windows TCP/IP command that adds, displays, or modifies local user groups.
Netdom network domain
A Windows TCP/IP command that allows administrators to manage Active Directory domains and trust relationships for Windows Server from the command prompt on the server or remotely from a Windows 8/7 workstation
Net use
A Windows TCP/IP command that connects or disconnects a computer from a shared resource or can display information about connections.
nbtstat NetBIOS over TCP/IP statistics
A Windows TCP/IP command that is used to display statistics about the NetBT protocol.
Net user
A Windows TCP/IP command used to manage user accounts.
ipconfig IP configuration
A Windows command that displays TCP/IP configuration information and can refresh TCP/IP assignments to a connection, including its IP address.
Cable Internet
A broadband technology that uses cable TV lines and is always connected (always up).
ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network
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. ISDN has been replaced by DSL.
Coaxial cable
A cable that has a single copper wire down the middle and a braided shield around it.
Shielded twisted-pair STP cable
A cable that is made of one or more twisted pairs of wires and is surrounded by a metal shield.
Ferrite clamp
A clamp installed on a network cable to protect against electrical interference.
RG-6 coaxial cable
A coaxial cable used for cable TV, which replaced the older and thinner RG-59 coaxial cable.
Internet service provider ISP
A commercial group that provides Internet access for a monthly fee; Charter, Earthlink, and Windstream are large ISPs
Punchdown tool
A tool used to punch individual wires from a network cable into their slots to terminate the cable.
Cable tester
A tool used to test a cable to find out if it is good or to find out what type of cable it is if the cable is not labeled.
Wire Stripper
A tool used when terminating a cable. The tool cuts away the plastic jacket or coating around the wires in a cable so that a connector can be installed on the end of the cable.
Broadband
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.
Tone probe
A two-part kit that is used to find cables in the walls of a building. Also called a toner probe.
Wireless LAN WLAN
A type of LAN that does not use wires or cables to create connections, but instead transmits data over radio or infrared
Line-of-sight connectivity
A type of connection used by satellites that requires no obstruction from mountains, trees, and tall buildings from the satellite dish to the satellite.
MT-RJ mechanical transfer registered jack connector
A type of connector used by fiber-optic cables and can be used with either single-mode or multimode fiber-optic cables and is more difficult to connect than the smaller LC connector.
ST straight tip connector
A type of connector used by fiber-optic cables and can be used with either single-mode or multimode fiber-optic cables. The connector does not support full-dupex transmissions and is not used on the fastest fiber-optic systems.
MAN metropolitan area network
A type of network that covers a large city or campus.
SC subscriber connector or standard connector
A type of snap-in connector used by fiber-optic cables and can be used with either single-mode or multimode fiber-optic cables. It is not used with the fastest fiber-optic networking.
Gigabit Ethernet
A version of Ethernet that supports rates of data transfer up to 1 gigabit per second.
straight-through cable
An Ethernet cable used to connect a computer to a switch or other network device. Also called a patch cable.
100BaseT
An Ethernet standard that operates at 100 Mbps and uses twisted-pair cabling up to 100 meters (328 feet). Also called Fast Ethernet. Variations of 100BaseT are 100BaseTX and 100BaseFX.
RG-59 coaxial cable
An older and thinner coaxial cable once used for cable TV.
Fiber optic
As applied to Internet access technologies, a dedicated, leased line that uses fiber-optic cable from the Internet service provider (ISP) to a residence or place of business.
Bandwidth
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 be transmitted on a bus or over a cable stated in bits per second (bps), kilobits per second (Kbps), megabits per second (Mbps), or gigabits per second (Gbps). Also called data throughput or line speed.
Fiber-optic cable
Cable that transmits signals as pulses of light over glass or plastic strands inside protected tubing.
Twisted-pair cabling
Cabling, such as a network cable, that uses pairs of wires twisted together to reduce crosstalk.
Mobile hotspot
Created by a mobile device so that other devices or computers can connect by Wi-Fi to the device and on to the Internet.
Latency
Delays in network transmissions resulting in slower network performance. Latency is measured by the round-trip time it takes for a data packet to travel from source to destination and back to source.
Wi-Fi analyzer
Hardware and/or software that monitors a Wi-Fi network to detect devices not authorized to use the network, identify attempts to hack transmissions, or detect performance and security vulnerabilities.
T568A
Standards for wiring twisted-pair network cabling and RJ-45 connectors and have the green pair connected to pins 1 and 2 and the orange pair connected to pins 3 and 6.
T568B
Standards for wiring twisted-pair network cabling and RJ-45 connectors and have the orange pair using pins 1 and 2 and the green pair connected to pins 3 and 6.
Plenum
The area between floors of a building.
unshielded twisted -pair UTP cable
The most popular cabling method for local networks and is the least expensive and is commonly used on LANs. The cable is made of twisted pairs of wires and is not surrounded by shielding.
PVC polyvinyl chloride
The product used to cover Ethernet cables that is not safe to be used in a plenum because it gives off toxic fumes when burned.
Tether
To connect a mobile device with a cellular connection to the Internet to a computer so that the computer can access the Internet by way of the mobile device.
Reverse lookup
To find the host name when you know a computer's IP address. The nslookup command can perform a reverse lookup.
Setting
Up and Troubleshooting Network Wiring
Hardware
Used by Local Networks