Networking Terms
TIA
Telecommunications Industries Association .
FDDI
Fiber Distributed Data Interface is a network architecture normally used to send longer distances. Topology is ring with two counter rotating rings for reliability with no hubs. Cable type is fiber-optic.
FTP
File Transfer Protocol.
FTP
File Transport Protocol is a TCP/IP protocol running at the application layer.
Server
For the most part it provides resources on the network for other computers to use.
FDMA
Frequency Division Multiple Access divides the cellular network into 30Khz channels.
DECnet
From Digital Equipment Corporation is a suite of protocols which may be used on large networks that integrate mainframe and minicomputer systems
GSM
Global System for Mobile Communications.
IPIP tunneling
Tunneling IP packets in IP packets. Used for VPN tunneling.
ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network is a method of sending voice and data information on a digital phone line. Two 64Kbps B-channels with one 16Kbps D channel is provided with basic ISDN service
X.400
International Telecommunication Union standard defines transfer protocols for sending mail between mail servers.
ITU
International Telecommunication Union.
CCITT
International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee.
IAB
Internet Architecture Board
IANA
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority.
ICMP
Internet Control Message Protocol is used to perform network error reporting and status. It works at the transport layer. RFC 792.
IDC
Internet Database collector.
IETF
Internet Engineering Task Force. Sets Internet technical standards.
IGMP
Internet Group Management Protocol, used for managing multicast groups. RFC 1112.
IMAP4
Internet Mail Access Protocol version 4 is the replacement for POP3
InterNIC
Internet Network Information Center, the authority for allocating internet addresses.
IP
Internet Protocol os used for software addressing of computers and works at the data link layer. RFC 791.
IRTF
Internet Research Task force.
ISAKMP/Oakley
Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol Authentication.
ISAPI
Internet Server Application Programming Interface
ISP
Internet Service Provider
ISOC
Internet Society, promotes internet policies.
IPSec
Internet protocol security, developed by IETF, implemented at layer 3. it is a collection of security measures that address data privacy, integrity, authentication, and key management, in addition to tunneling. Used for VPN.
IPX
Internetwork Packet Exchange supports the transport and network layers of the OSI network model. Provides for network addressing and routing. It provides fast, unreliable, communication with network nodes using a connection less datagram service.
IRQ
Interrupt Request
Spread spectrum
It uses several frequencies at the same time.
MTA
Message transfer agent is used to pass mail from the sending machine to the receiving machine. There is a MTA program running on both the sending and receiving machine. Sendmail is a MTA.
MOTIS
Message-oriented text interchange system.
NNTP
Network News Transport Protocol is used to link newsgroups for discussions on the web
NetDDE
Network dynamic data exchange.
NIC
Network interface card. Also called LAN adapters.
Router
Routes data packets between two networks. It reads the information in each packet to tell where it is going.
RIP
Routing Information Protocol, a dynamic routing protocol. A distance-vector algorithm is used to calculate the best route for a packet. RFC 1058, 1388 (RIP2).
RTMP
Routing table maintenance protocol is used to update routers with information about network status and address tables. The whole address table is sent across the network.
SMS
SMS - Systems Management Server from Microsoft can collect information of software on each computer and can install and configure new software on the client computers. It will also monitor network traffic.
RADIUS
Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service is used for dial in clients to connect to other computers or a network. It provides authentication and accounting when using PPTP or L2TP tunneling.
RPC
Remote Procedure Call. A protocol invented by Sun Microsystem to allow remote computers to invoke functions on other hosts. RFC 1057.
Rlogin
Remote login between UNIX hosts. This is outdated and is replaced by Telnet.
Telnet
Remote session at the application layer. RFC 854.
RR
Resource Records are a part of the DNS database.
RARP
Reverse Address Resolution Protocol used for diskless computers to determine their IP address using the network. It works at the data link layer. RFC 903
VPN
Virtual Private Networking. The function of VPN is to allow two computers or networks to talk to each other over a transport media that is not secure, but the network is made secure by VPN security protocols.
WAN
Wide Area Network is larger than a MAN and may be an enterprise network or a global network.
Brouter
Will function similar to a bridge for network transport protocols that are not routable, and will function as a router for routable protocols.
WINS
Windows Internet Name Service is the Microsoft implementation of NetBIOS name service.
WML
Wireless markup language is another name for HDML.
W3C
World Wide Web Consortium, sets standards for the web working with the IETF.
ZIP
Zone information protocol used with RTMP to map zones. Routers use zone information tables (ZITs) to define network addresses and zone names.
Redirector
it runs on a windows operating system and directs requests for network resources to the appropriate server and makes network resources seem to be local resources.
attenuation
signal loss due to impedance.
5 4 3 rule
there can be 5 network segments with 4 repeaters, and 3 of the segments can be connected to computers
CSMA/CD
Carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection for controlling access to the network media.
Peer
A computer that can act as both a client and a server.
Gateway
A gateway can translate information between different network data formats or network architectures. It can translate TCP/IP to AppleTalk so computers supporting TCP/IP can communicate with Apple brand computers. Not the same as a default gateway used by a client to send packets to.
Multihomed
A host with multiple IP addresses.
Sector Sparing
A method of fault tolerance that automatically identifies and marks bad sectors as not available. It is also called hot-fixing.
Token Ring
A network architecture developed by IBM which sends tokens around a ring of computers to allow media access. Standardized to IEEE 802.5
Ethernet
A network architecture that uses carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) for controlling access to the network media and baseband broadcasts. It uses star topology.
S/Key
A one time password system, secure against replays. RFC 2289.
Subnet
A part of a network. A class B network may have several class C subnets. Usually routers are used to connect subnets.
Protocol
A set of standards sets of standards that define all operations within a network. There are various protocols that operate at various levels of the OSI network model such as transport protocols include TCP, SPX.
Unicast
A transmission to a single interface card.
Broadcast
A transmission to all interface cards on the network.
Hub
A type of repeater used on several network architectures which usually connects several stations.
CDPD
Cellular Digital Packet Data will allow network connections for mobile users using satellites.
AGP
Accelerated Graphics Port. This bus is developed for fast video cards. It is currently up to 4X mode speed.
AU
Access Unit provides access to resources like fax, telex, and teletex.
ASP
Active Server Pages is Microsoft's web server technology which can run Visual Basic or JAVA script.
ARP
Address resolution Protocol is used to resolve the hardware address of a card to package the ethernet data. It works at the data link layer. RFC 826.
AMPS
Advanced Mobile Phone Service is analog cellular phone service.
APPC
Advanced Peer-to-Peer Communications provides peer to peer services at the transport and session layer.
APPN
Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking supports the computer connections at the network and transport layers.
cellular
An 800 Mhz band for mobile phone service.
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a subset of SGML and is used widely on the web.
EGP
Exterior Gateway Protocol. Used between routers of different systems.
AFP
AppleTalk Filing protocol - Makes network files appear local by managing file sharing at the presentation layer.
ATP
AppleTalk Transaction Protocol provides a Transport Layer connection between computers.
ADSP
AppleTalk data stream protocol manages the flow of data between two established socket connections.
AEP
AppleTalk echo protocol uses echoes to tell if a computer, or node, is available.
ASP
AppleTalk session protocol controls the starting and ending of sessions between computers called nodes. It works at the session level.
ARUP
AppleTalk update routing is a newer version of RTMP.
API
Application Programming Interface.
ATM
Asynchronous Transfer Mode may be used over a variety of media with both baseband and broadband systems. It uses fixed length data packets of 53 bytes called cell switching.
ARCnet
Attached Resource Computer Network is an architecture using star and bus topology.
BDC
Backup Domain Controller is a backup for a PDC
MBONE
Being on the MBONE means you are on a network that supports multicasting.
BSC
Binary Synchronous Communication sends bits in frames which are timed sequences of data. A possible SNA communications architecture,
BOOTP
Boot Protocol. RFC 951, 1542.
BGP
Border Gateway Protocol, a dynamic routing protocol. RFC 1267.
BNC
British Naval Connector.
CHAP
Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol is a three way handshake protocol which is considered more secure than PAP.
CSU
Channel service unit used to connect to digital leased lines on the line side.
CIDR
Classless Inter Domain Routing.
CDMA
Code division multiple access allows transmission of voice and data over a shared part of radio frequencies. This is also called spread spectrum.
Link
Connects two network devices. Implemented by the data link layer.
CRC
Cyclic Redundancy check is a set of trailing data bytes in a message used to determine if an error occurred in a message.
DLC
Data Link Control operates at the data link layer and is designed for communications between Hewlett-Packard network printers and IBM mainframe computers on a DECnet network.
Baseband
Data bits are defined by discrete signal changes.
DBMS
Database Management Systems are used to share data on a network.
DDP
Datagram Delivery Protocol is a routable protocol that provides for data packet transportation. It operates at the network layer at the same level of the IP protocol.
DUN
Dial up networking.
D-AMPS
Digital AMPS using TDMA to divide the channels into three channels.
DAT
Digital Audio Tape
DNA
Digital Network Architecture is a term from DECNet
DDS
Digital data service is a leased dedicated digital line.
DSU
Digital service unit used to connect to digital leased lines on the LAN side.
DVM
Digital volt meter.
DRDA
Distributed Relational Database Architecture is from IBM.
DTD
Document Type Definition.
DNS
Domain Name System is used on the internet to correlate between IP address and readable names. RFC 1034, 1035, 1535-1537, 1591.
DAS
Dual attachment stations are used by FDDI networks for servers and concentrators are attached to both rings.
DHCP
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is used to assign IP addresses dynamically to network cards works at the application layer. RFC 1541.
DDE
Dynamic data exchange.
Interference
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI). Crosstalk - When wires pick up electromagnetic signals from nearby wires also carrying signals.
EMI
Electromagnetic Interference.
EIA
Electronic Industries Association .
EIGRP
Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol integrates the bese capabilities of link-state protocols with distance vector protocols capabilities.
Frame Relay
Error checking is handled by devices at both sides of the connection. Frame relay uses frames of varying length and it operates at the data link layer of the OSI model. A permanent virtual circuit (PVC) is established between two points on the network. Frame relay speed is between 56Kbps and 1.544Mbps.
EISA
Extended ISA used when the 80286 through 80486 series microprocessors were being produced. It is backward compatible with ISA.
Thicknet
Half inch rigid cable. Maximum cable length is 500 meters. Transmission speed is 10Mbps. Expensive and is not commonly used. (RG-11 or RG-8).
HDML
Handheld Device Markup Language is a version of HTML only allowing text to be displayed.
HTML
Hypertext Markup Language is the format many files for web viewing are in. It is a language with "mark-up" text included for formatting.
HTTP
Hypertext Transfer Protocol is the protocol used to communicate between web servers and web browser software clients.
Datagram
IP header and what is called a message or segment. The message or segment is a transport header (TCP or UDP) and application data. The term datagram is used to describe the information before IP fragmentation or after reassembly.
Packet
Includes an IP header and data. It may be a complete IP datagram or a fragment of an IP datagram.
MS
Message Store is a storage area for messages that can't be delivered immediately when the recipient is off-line.
Bandwidth
Indicates the amount of data that can be sent in a time period. Measured in Mbps which is one million bits per second.
ISA
Industry Standard Architecture internal computer bus. Used when the original 8088 8bit microprocessor based personal computers were produced. (16 bit).
Infared
Infared is just below the visible range of light between 100Ghz and 1000Thz.
L2TP
Layer 2 tunneling protocol (RFC 2661). Used for VPN tunneling.
L2F
Layer2 Forwarding, works at the link layer of the OSI model. It has no encryption. Being replaced by L2TP. It is used for VPN.
LCP
Link Control Protocol
LLC
Loc\gical link control is the interface between the lower and upper layer networking protocols.
LAN
Local Area Network
LDA
Local delivery agent on the receiving machine receives the mail from its MTA. This program is usually procmail.
LU
Logical Units are ports that users use to access network resources is an SNA term.
MUA
Mail users agent. This is the program a user will use to type e-mail. It usually incorporates an editor for support. The user types the mail and it is passed to the sending MTA. This may also be called the user agent (UA).
Backbone
Main cable used to connect computers on a network.
MIB
Management Information BASE specifies variables the network elements maintain. Works with the TCP/IP protocol SNMP.
MTU
Maximum Transmission Unit is the maximum size of each data packet for the ethernet protocol.
MAC
Media Access Control address. Basically a network card unique hardware address.
MHS
Message Handling Service by Novell is used for mail on Netware networks.
MAN
Metropolitan area network refers to a network which connects several LANS over various media that is large enough to cover an area the size of a city.
MCI
Microchannel architecture by IBM and used mainly on IBM brand computers for the internal bus. Established in 1988. (16 or 32 bits).
MAPI
Microsoft's Messaging API which is incorporated throughout Microsoft's office products supports mail at the application level.
wireless bridge
Microwave or infared is used between two line of site points where it is difficult to run wire.
MDBS
Mobile Data Base Station reviews all cellular channels at cellular sites.
MTP
Multicast Transport Protocol is a new transport layer protocol designed for reliable multicast network message transport.
T Carrier
Multiplexors are used to allow several channels on one line. The T1 line is basic T Carrier service.
MIME
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension is the protocol that defines the way files are attached to SMTP messages.
MAU
Multistation access unit used by Token Ring Networks.
NBP
Name-binding protocol of the AppleTalk suite of protocols translates addresses into names.
NADN
Nearest Active Downstream Neighbor is a Token ring Architecture term.
NAUN
Nearest Active Upstream Neighbor is a Token ring Architecture term.
NetBEUI
NetBIOS Extended User Interface works at the transport layer and provides data transportation. It is not a routable transport protocol which is why NBT exists on large networks to use routable TCP protocol on large networks.
NBF
NetBIOS Frame Protocol.
NBNS
NetBIOS Name Server. A server that maps NetBIOS names to IP addresses. This service is provided by the nmbd daemon on Linux.
NBT
NetBIOS over TCP/IP defined by RFC 1002.
NCP
NetWare Core Protocol provides for client/server interactions such as file and print sharing. It works at the application, presentation, and session levels.
NAT
Network Address Translation.
NAU
Network Addressable Units is an SNA term.
NetBIOS
Network Basic Input Output System by Microsoft.
NCP
Network Control Program performs routing, session management tasks. It runs in the communications controller. It is an SNA networking term.
NDIS
Network Driver Interface Specification from Microsoft, is used on Microsoft networks. It allows multiple protocols to be used on a network card and supports the data link layer of the network model.
NFS
Network File System. A protocol that allows UNIX and Linux systems remotely mount each other's file systems. RFC 1094
TACACS
Offers authentication, accounting, and authorization.
ODI
Open Data-link Interface operates at the data link layer allowing IPX to work with any network interface card.
ODBC
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) from Microsoft lets application developers integrate database connections in applications. It is an application programming interface (API). ODBC drivers convert an application's query int SQL and send it to the database engine program.
OSPF
Open Shortest Path First, a dynamic routing protocol. RFC 1247.
OSI
Open Systems Interconnect is a suite of protocols developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO) which corresponds with the layers of the OSI model.
OC
Optical Carrier level, see SONET.
PAP
Password Authentification Protocol is a two way handshake protocol designed for use with PPP.
PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect internal computer bus. The popular expansion bus of choice. It is significantly faster than EISA. This is a 32bit bus with plug and play capability from Intel.
PCS
Personal communications Service is a 1.9 Ghz band for mobile phones.
PU
Physical Units are a network device used to communicate with hosts. It is an SNA term.
RAS
Remote Access Service (RAS) with Windows NT allows users connecting to the network using a modem to use network resources. The NT RAS server can handle 256 connections.
POP
Point of presence is each point at the end of the transport media (internet) when talking about VPN.
PPP
Point to Point Protocol, used for serial connections to a network ot the internet. (RFC 1332, 1548)
PPTP
Point to point tunneling protocol (RFC 2637) Used for VPN tunneling.
POP3
Post Office Protocol version 3 is used by clients to access an internet mail server to get mail. It is not a transport layer protocol.
PDC
Primary Domain Controller is an NT server providing central control of user access permissions and accounts on a network.
PAP
Printer access protocol of the AppleTalk suite of protocols manages information between workstations and printers.
Bridge
Read the outermost section of data on the data packet, to tell where the message is going. It reduces the traffic on other network segments, since it does not send all packets but only sends packets intended for that segment they are attached to.
RAID
Redundant Array of Inexpensive disks is a fault tolerant method of storing data, meaning that a failure can occur and the system will still function.
Intranet
Refers to using internet technologies such as a web server on an internal network.
SPX
Sequenced Packet Exchange operates at the transport layer providing connection oriented communication on top of IPX.
SLIP
Serial Line interface Protocol used to connect serially to a network or internet. RFC 1055, 1144 (Compressed). Replaced by PPP.
SMB
Server Message Block protocol works at the presentation level to provide peer to peer communication.
SAP
Service Advertising Protocol packets are used by file and print servers to periodically advertise the address of the server and the services available. It works at the application, presentation, and session levels.
Internetwork
Several subnets connected together using routers.
STP
Shielded Twisted Pair cable. 100 meter maximum length. 16-155 Mbps speed. Lower electrical interference than UTP
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is a TCP protocol for mail transport running at the application layer. RFC 821, 822.
SNMP
Simple Network Management Protocol. RFC 1155, 1157, 1213, 1441.
SAS
Single Attachment stations attached to one ring and used by FDDI networks to attach workstations to concentrators.
SLED
Single Large Inexpensive disk - The concept that a large disk costs less per amount of storage than several smaller ones. Somehow this concept is used as a means of fault tolerance.
SMAU
Smart Multistation Access Unit.
Plenum
Space above a false ceiling in an office area where heat ducts and cables may be run. Plenum cabling is special fire resistant cabling required for use in these areas due to fire hazards.
SGML
Standardized General Markup Language is the base language for document publishing and is used to define XML, HTML and more.
SQL
Structured Query Language is a database access language. It is used by most client/server database applications.
SMDS
Switched Multi-megabit Data Service uses fixed length cell switching and runs at speeds of 1.533 to 45Mbps.
SDLS
Synchronous Data Link Control is a possible SNA communications architecture.
SDH
Synchronous Digital Hierarchy
SONET
Synchronous Optical Network is a physical layer standard that defines voice, data, and video delivery methods over fiber optic media. It defines data rates in terms of optical carrier (OC) levels.
SNA
System Network Architecture by IBM is a suite of protocols mainly used with IBM mainframe and AS/400 computers.
SSCP
Systems Services Control Point manages all resources in the host's domain. An SNA term.
Impedance
The amount of resistance to the transmission device.
Direct sequence modulation
The data is broken into parts and transmitted simultaneously on multiple frequencies.
Media
The hardware method used to connect computers over a network. The three main types are copper cable, fiber optic cable, and wireless.
Architecture
The method that is used to transmit packets on a network. Sometimes the term architecture includes topology. An example is ethernet.
Topology
The shape of the physical connection of a network with regard to repeaters and networked computers. The three main types are ring, bus, and star.
Frequency hopping
The transmitter and receiver change predetermined frequencies at the same time (in a synchronized manner).
Segment
The unit of end-to-end transmission in the TCP protocol which consists of a TCP header followed by application data.
Frame
The unit of transmission in a link layer protocol, consisting of a link-layer header (ethernet) followed by a packet (IP header and data). It may be a part of a fragmented datagram.
Message
The unit of transmission in a transport layer protocol. A TCP segment is a message which consists of a transport protocol header followed by application data.
Thinnet
Thinnet uses a British Naval Connector (BNC) on each end. Thinnet is part of the RG-58 family of cable*. Maximum cable length is 185 meters. Transmission speed is 10Mbps.
Client
This computer requests resources for its use from a computer that provides the resource (a server).
X.500
This is a recommendation outlining how an organization can share objects and names on a large network. It is hierarchical similar to DNS, defining domains consisting of organizations, divisions, departments, and workgroups.
X.25
This is a set of protocols developed by the CCITT/ITU which specifies how to connect computer devices over a internetwork.
Mail notifier
This program notifies the recipient that they have mail. Normally this requires two programs, biff and comsat. Biff allows the administrator or user to turn on comsat service.
TDMA
Time Division Multiple Access uses time division multiplexing to divide each cellular channel into three sub channels to service three users at a time.
TDR
Time-domain reflectometer sends a sonar like electrical pulse down a cable and can determine the location of a break in the cable.
TLD
Top Level domain
Multicasting
Transmitting to a group of interface cards on the network.
TCP
Transport Control protocol is a connection oriented reliable protocol working at the transport layer. RFC 793.
TDI
Transport Driver Interface is a standard for passing messages between the drivers at the data link layer and the protocols working at the network layer such as IP or NetBEUI. It was produced by Microsoft.
TFTP
Trivial File Transfer Protocol. RFC 1350.
Network Operating System
Typically used to run computers that act as servers, but may be used on various types of computers today.
UNC
Universal Naming Convention is used to allow the use of shared resources without mapping a drive to them.
URL
Universal Resource Relocator is a term used to describe the name of a web based resource such as a web page or location of a file for down loading.
UTP
Unshielded Twisted Pair cable. Normally UTP contains 8 wires or 4 pair. 100 meter maximum length. 4-100 Mbps speed.
Resolver
Used as part of DNS, it is the client side asking for DNS information.
Repeater
Used on a network to regenerate signals to be sent over long distances or tie computers together on a network.
Shielding
Used to minimize interference.
UDP
User Datagram Protocol is a connection less unreliable protocol working at the transport layer. RFC 768.
UA
Users agent. This is the program a user will use to type e-mail. It usually incorporates an editor for support. The user types the mail and it is passed to the sending MTA. This may also be called the mail user agent (MUA).
Broadband
Uses analog signals to divide the cable into several channels with each channel at its own frequency. Each channel can only transmit one direction.
VIM
Vendor-Independent Messaging protocol from Lotus supports mail at the application level and is supported by many vendors exclusive of Microsoft.