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Archie |
A program used to search the Internet for files. |
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Attachment |
A file included with e-mail messages when sent across the
Internet. This can be a picture, text document of a different format,
etc. |
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Bps |
Stands for bits-per-second. There are eight bits in a
byte. |
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Binary Format |
A format that is used when posting files in Usenet
newsgroups or other similar locations. |
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Broadcast |
The term used to describe a network acknowledgement of
which computers are connected. Network broadcasting can eat up
precious bandwidth depending on the network size, which is one reason
subnetting is used. |
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Browser |
A program that is used to view the graphical content of the
World Wide Web (WWW), such as Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla, or
Opera. |
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Cable Modem |
A device used to connect a cable (coaxial) network to an
Ethernet network. It is NOT the same as a dial-up modem. Cable
modems are used by broadband providers like Cox Communications and
Charter. |
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DNS |
Stands for domain name system. It's the method used for
converting or displaying IP addresses as names on the Internet. |
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DSL |
Stands for digital subscriber line. DSL communicates over
the same telephone wiring (POTS) used by phones, but at different
frequencies. |
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DSL Modem |
A device used to connect a DSL network to an Ethernet
network. DSL modems are used by providers like Verizon. |
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Domain Name |
The name that is assigned to a particular IP address on the
Internet. |
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E-Mail |
Stands for electronic mail. It's a message that is sent
from one person to another across the Internet. |
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Ethernet |
The IEEE 802.3 communications standard originally created
by Xerox, Intel, and DEC in 1976. It includes provisions for both
BNC cabling/bus topology and twisted-pair cabling/star topology. |
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FDDI |
Stands for fiber distributed data interface. It is a type
of fiber-optic backbone in which there are two complete fiber loops
for transmitting and receiving data. FDDI combines fiber-optic
cabling and the use of a Token Ring topology to transmit data at up
to 100 Mbps. |
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Fiber Optic Cabling |
A networking medium in which light pulses are transmitted
across vast distances through shielded pieces of stranded glass. |
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Firewall |
A software and / or hardware system that is used to regulate
permissions to various computer systems on both the Internet and
private intranets. One example of this is a server that runs
Windows NT and has Proxy Server installed. This keeps the internal
network from being seen by the outside world. |
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FTP |
Stands for file transfer protocol. It's a method by
which files are exchanged from one system to another. This method is
usually faster than downloading files by way of web pages. |
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Gbps |
Stands for gigabits-per-second. It is commonly associated
with Gigabit Ethernet and 10-Gigabit Ethernet. |
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HTML |
Stands for hypertext markup language. It's the common
programming language used for designing web pages. |
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Hub |
A central device used to connect several computers
together on an Ethernet network. A hub's bandwidth is divided among
however many devices need to communicate at any given time. |
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Internet |
A collection of computer networks. Most people refer to
the global collection of computer networks as "the Internet." |
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Internet Service Provider (ISP) |
A company that supplies a connection to the Internet. |
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Intranet |
A collection of computer networks within one establishment,
such as a multiple-floor office building or a college campus. |
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IP Address |
The four-octet numerical designation of a computer's
network address. It will appear something like: 192.168.2.1. |
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IRC |
Stands for internet relay chat. It's a method by which
people join various "chat rooms" and have discussions. |
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Local Area Network (LAN) |
A network of computers in one establishment, such as a
home, office building, or college campus. |
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Mbps |
Stands for megabits-per-second. Common denominations are
10 Mbps and 100 Mbps. |
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Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) |
A network usually comprising one or two cities. |
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MIME |
A type of encoding scheme used when sending an e-mail from
one user to another. It converts binary files to text format. |
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Modem |
Device used to connect a computer to another computer or to
an ISP. Modem stands for modulation/demodulation, which converts
digital signals to analog signals and vice versa. |
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Network Adapter (NIC) |
Device used to connect a computer to a network. |
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Newsgroups |
Various discussion areas where people exchange information
in Usenet. |
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OSI Reference Model |
Developed by the Internation Organization for
Standardization, it is a seven-layer breakdown of how networks
communicate. The layers, from level one to seven, are: physical,
data link, network, transport, session, presentation, and
application. |
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Packet |
The type of unit used for exchanging information in a
network environment or the Internet. |
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Ping |
Command used to test connection speed between two points,
usually the user's system to another system on a LAN or the
Internet. Results are shown in milliseconds (ms). |
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POTS |
Stands for plain old telephone service, referring to the
common wiring used for telephone calls. |
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PPP |
Stands for point-to-point protocol. It's a method used
when modems connect to the Internet by phone line. |
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RJ-11 Connector |
The connector used on the ends of telephone wires, usually
comprised of four pins. |
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RJ-45 Connector |
The connector used on the ends of copper network wiring
which is comprised of eight pins. |
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Router |
A device used to route traffic between different network
segments. Routers can be used in internal networks at the
Internet connection, or between major Internet hops. Routers
communicate at Layer 3 of the OSI model using a specific protocol,
such as OSPF or RIP. In addition routers help eliminate
broadcasts. |
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Shell Account |
A type of connection, usually text-based, where a user
connects from one computer to another to conduct various operations.
The most common type of shell account connection is Telnet, which is
used to connect to UNIX-based computers. |
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Signature |
Data that is attached to an e-mail to identify the people
that are sending/receiving. |
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SLIP |
Stands for serial line Internet protocol. It's a method
that predates that of PPP used for connecting a computer to the
Internet by modem over a phone line. |
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Spam |
The term used to describe a mass of e-mail messages that
are sent to multiple recipients by one user. |
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Subnet |
A segment of networked computers. Networked computers are
divided into subnets for easier control. |
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Subnet Mask |
The four-octet numerical designation used in conjunction
with a computer's IP address that helps it define what network it is
on. A common subnet mask is: 255.255.255.0. |
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Switch |
A device used to connect several computers together on an
Ethernet network. Switches communicate on Layer 2 of the OSI model,
using the MAC of each network device. Switches allow for full-duplex
operation of each port and provide aggregate bandwidth (total maximum
bandwidth). |
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TCP/IP |
Stands for Transmission Control Protocol / Internet
Protocol. It's a standard method used between various computer
systems for exchanging information over networks, thus eliminating
the limitation of the type of computer. TCP is the part of TCP/IP
by which data is sent using a connecton-oriented method to guarantee
the data was received. |
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Telnet |
A type of shell account terminal used to allow users to
talk to UNIX-based machines. Since Telnet connections are easily
hackable, many use secure Telnet connections. |
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Token Ring |
A network topology in which networked computers transmit
and receive data when they possess a "token." Only one system can
possess the token at any given time. Typical Token Ring speeds are
4 Mbps and 16 Mbps, making this topology fairly obsolete. |
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UU Encode / UU Decode |
The method used for sending and receiving files to Usenet
newsgroup servers. |
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UDP |
Stands for user datagram protocol. The method by which
data is sent using the TCP/IP protocol without requiring
acknowledgement the data was received. |
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Virtual Private Network (VPN) |
A network connection made specifically between two systems
or networks across other networks owned and operated outside the
home or business. A VPN has the appearance of being a direct
connection between the two points. VPNs are encrypted for data
security. |
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Wide Area Network (WAN) |
A network that spans large distances, such as multiple
cities, states, provinces, or countries. |
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Winsock |
A type of software interface that allows Windows-based
computers to communicate with the Internet. |
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World Wide Web |
The graphical portion of the Internet. |
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