Unit 2 - Glossary

Client –Any part of the network that receives data such as a workstation
Computer network – Computers connected together for the purpose of sharing information and resources
Host – Any part of the network that gives data out (where client accesses the data from) such as a server
Hub – A device that uses its ports to connect devices (computers, printers, etc.) together
LAN – Local Area Network; a geographic network that covers a relatively small geographic area such as a building or a small campus – no more than a mile distance between computers
Network Interface Card – A card installed in a computer that allows you to connect to a network (can be Ethernet, telephone, or wireless)
MAN – Metropolitan Area Network; a geographic network that covers a larger geographic area such as a city or community; may be used to connect computers in libraries, government agencies, etc. together – no more than 30 miles in size
Modem—A device that allows computers to communicate over telephone lines
Peer-to-Peer— A controller network that simply connects computers to each other or to a device such as a printer, but a server is not necessary
Protocol – How data is formatted, transmitted and received in a network
Router – A device that transfers data from one network to another in an intelligent way
Server – A computer with large processing resources that stores all of the software that controls the network, as well as the software that can be shared with the computers attached to the network
Server-based- A controller network that connects computers and other devices through a server
Switch – A computer networking device that connects network segments
WAN – Wide Area Network; largest type of network in terms of geographic area; largest WAN is the Internet
Wi-Fi—Wireless local area network that uses radio signals to transmit data
Wireless Adapter—The device that you must have on your computer in order to connect to a wireless network
WLAN—Wireless Local Area Network
Bandwidth—The amount of data that can be transferred over a network in a certain amount of time
Bluetooth—Allows electronic devices like cell phones and computers to exchange data over short distances using radio waves
Chat Room –A virtual room where people discuss using text over the Internet
Communications media – How nodes in a network are connected together (by cable, by fiber optics, radio waves, etc.)
E-Mail—An exchange of electronic messages between computers that are connected to the Internet or some other computer network
Fax—A device that transmits a scanned picture or document over a telephone line
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)—A communications method for transferring data between computers on the Internet
Firewall—Part of a computer system that is designed to block unauthorized access
Instant Messaging—The use of an application that allows users to “chat” over the Internet from computer to computer
Node – Any device physically connected in a network (such as computer workstations, server, printers, etc.)
Public internet access point—A public place that provides internet access to users or customers
Topology – The physical and logical design of a computer network; examples include mesh, bus, ring and star; the physical layout of the network devices and the cabling, and how all the components communicate with each other
Video Conferencing—Live conferences over the Internet that includes voice, video, and or text
Workstation – A personal computer located on a network