ARPNET

Advanced Research Projects Administration Network -- The computer network system that gave birth to the internet. ARPANET began in 1969 as a U.S. Department of Defense experiment in packet-switched networking.

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Communication Devices

An input device or output device used to connect one computer to another in order to share hardware and information. The family of devies include modems and network interface cards.

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DNS

Domain Name System -- A general-purpose distributed, replicated, data query service chiefly used on internet for translating hostnames into internet addresses.

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Ethernet

The most common network protocol which usually is implemented using twisted pair wires. It requires each computer on the network to take turns to send data. A network technology known as 10Base-T which travels at 10Mgb/s.

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Ethernet Backbone

The central structure that connects other elements of the network and handles the major traffic in the system.

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Fast Ethernet

A networking technology known as 100Base-T. It uses the same network cabling scheme as ethernet, but uses different network interface cards to achieve data transfer speeds of up to 100Mgb/s.

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File Server

The central computer of a network used for shared storage. The server stores software applications and databases.

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File Server-Network

A hierarchal network strategy in which the server is used to store and forward files to node. Each node runs its own application.

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Firewall

An anti-piracy method of protecting networks. A network node that acts as a gateway, permitting access to public sections while protecting proprietary areas.

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Hub

Distributes the signal to several computers.

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IP Address

Internet Provider Address -- A unique four part numeric address assigned to each computer on the internet, containing routing information to indicate its location. Each of the four parts is a number between 0 and 255. Example, 11.234.15.9

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ISDN

Integrated Services Digital Network -- A digital communications standard that replaces analog transmissions and transmits, video and data.

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LAN

Local Area Network -- A system of computer that are located relatively near to one another and are connected by wire or a wireless link. A LAN permits simultaneous access to data and resources, enhances personal communication and simplifies backup procedures.

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Network

A system of interconnected computers that communicate with one another and share applications, data and hardware components.

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Nodes

The individual computers that make up a network.

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OSI

Open Systems Interconnect -- A model of network architecture and a suite of protocols, a protocol stack, to implement it. Developed by ISO in 1978 as a framework for international standards in heterogeneous computer network architecture.

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Packet-Switching

Refers to protocols, in which messages are divided into packets before they are sent. Each packet is then transmitted individually and can even follow different routes to its destination. Once all the packets forming a message arrive at the destination, they are recompiled into the original message.

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Panduit Box

Electronic box in the data closet which all the computers are connected.

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Repeater

A device that will rebroadcast a network signal, allowing it to travel longer distances. They have little or no effect on the speed of a network signal.

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Router

A device that intelligently connects networks to each other. The same protocol must be used over both networks. A router forwards only the traffic that has a destination outside the sender's immediate network.

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Switch

Controls the traffic in different areas of the network.

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TCP/IP

Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol -- The set of commands and timing specifications used by internet to connect dissimilar systems and control the flow of information.

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URL

Uniform Resource Locator -- A standard way of specifying the location of an object, typically a web page, on the internet. URLs are the form of address used on the World-Wide Web. This is the URL for Google: http://www.google.com.

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WAN

Wide Area Network -- - A computer network in which two or more LANs are connected together across a wide geographical area.

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World Wide Web

An internet client-server hypertext distributed information retrieval system which originated from the CERN High-Energy Physics laboratories in Geneva, Switzerland.

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Yahoo!

One of the biggest, and most famous search engines avaliable on the internet.

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