Computer Networking Terminology – Common

There are hundred of words, phrases and terms used in the computer networking. Since most of us are not future Cisco employees thus I decided to list some of the more common terminology you may come across or need to know. Here is a list of important words, phrases and terms you should know about networking.

• Bandwidth – the rated throughput capacity of a given network media or protocol. The amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time.

• Backbone – A high-speed link joining together several networks.

• Bit – A unit of information having just two possible values, as either of the binary digits 0 or 1.

• Byte – a series of consecutive binary digits that are operated upon as a unit. There are 8 bits in a byte.

• Category 5 (cat 5) cable -A type of twisted pair network wiring in which there is a certain number of twists per foot. It is the most commonly used network cabling.

• Coaxial Cable – A type of cable consisting of two insulating layers and two conductors most commonly used in older networks.

• Collision – An attempt by two devices to transmit over the network at the same time usually resulting in the data being lost.

• DNS (Domain Name System) – an internet service that translates domain names into IP addresses. For example www.google.com translates to 66.102.7.99.

• Dynamic DNS – A method of keeping a domain name linked to a changing IP address using a pool of available IP addresses so you can use applications that require a static IP address.

• Domain – A group of computers and devices on a network that are administered as a unit.

• DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol ) – A TCP/IP protocol that dynamically assigns an IP address to a computer. Dynamic addressing simplifies network administration because the software keeps track of IP addresses rather than requiring a network administrator to do so.

• Ethernet – Ethernet is the most widely installed local area network technology. It was developed during the late 1970s through a partnership of DEC, Intel, and Xerox.

• Fiber Optic – A cable technology that uses glass (or plastic) threads (fibers) to transmit data. It is a very fast technology

ALSO READ: COMPUTER HARDWARE TERMINOLOGY

• Gateway – A device on a network that serves as an entrance to another network and routes traffic

• Hardware (MAC) address – A unique address associated with a particular network device

• Hub – A common connection point for computers and devices in a network that takes an incoming signal and repeats it on all other ports

• Internet – Term used to refer to the world’s largest internetwork, connecting thousands of networks worldwide. Also known as the world wide web (www)

• IP address – a 32-bit address assigned to hosts using the TCP/IP protocol. Each computer/device on the public internet has a unique IP address. An example of an IP address is 192.168.1.

• LAN (Local Area Network) – computer/data network which is confined in a limited geographical area.

• MAC Address (Media Access Control) – A unique identifier attached to most forms of networking equipment. It is burned into the device and cannot be changed

• Megabit – A measure of data transmission speed – 1 million bits per second or approximately 125,000 characters per second

• Megabyte – A unit of measure for memory or hard disk storage capacity. 1024 megabytes = 1 gigabyte.

• Network – A group of computers and devices that can communicate with each other and share resources.

• Network Interface Card (NIC) – A hardware device inside a computer or other network device that enables communication with a network.

• Packet – The unit of data sent across a network. Data is broken up into packets for sending over a packet switching network.

• PING (Packet Internet Groper) – A command used to test connectivity to a device over a TCP/IP network.

• Protocol – Rules determining the format and transmission of data over a network

• RJ–45 – Standard connectors used for unshielded twisted-pair cable. Most commonly used with Cat5 network cabling.

• Route – A path through an internetwork.

• Router – A device that routes/forwards data across a networks.

• Server – A computer that handles requests for data, email, files, and other network services from other computers (clients)

• Subnet – A portion of a network that shares a common address component but is on a different segment than the rest of the network.

• TI Line – A high speed dedicated data line that supports a transmission rate of 1.544 Mbps

• TCP/IP – Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A suite of protocols used as the basis of the nation’s internetwork (Internet). It can also be used on internal networks.

• UNC (Universal Naming Convention) Path – A UNC provides a naming convention for identifying network resources.UNC names consist of three parts, a server name, a share name, and an optional file path.

• WAN (wide area network) – A network linking together networks located in other geographic areas.

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