CompTIA Network+ Certification Acronyms FULL LIST

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AAAA

AAAA

DNS record for IPv6!

ACL

(Access Control List): A set of data (user names, passwords, time and date, IP address, MAC address, etc.) that is used to control access to a resource such as a computer, file, or network.

AES

(Advanced Encryption Standard): An encryption standard used by WPA2 and is currently the strongest encryption standard used by Wi-Fi.

AH

(Authentication Header): In the context of IPSec, a type of encryption that provides authentication of the IP packet's data payload through public key techniques.

AP

(Access Point): A device or software that facilitates communication and provides enhanced security to wireless devices.

APC

(Angled Physical Contact): Fiber-optic connector that makes physical contact between two fiber-optic cables. It specifies an 8-degree angle to the curved end, lowering signal loss. APC connectors have less connection degradation from multiple insertions compared to other connectors.

APIPA

(Automatic Private Internet Protocol Addressing): It is a feature or characteristic in operating systems (eg. Windows) which enables computers to self-configure an IP address and subnet mask automatically when their DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server isn't reachable.

AUP

(Acceptable Use Policy): A Set of rules and guidelines that are set up to regulate Internet use and to protect the user.

ARP

(Address Resolution Protocol): A communications protocol that resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses.

BGP

(Border Gateway Protocol): A path-vector protocol used by ISPs to establish routing between one another.

BNC

(Bayonet Neill-Concelman, or British Naval Connector): A miniature quick connect/disconnect radio frequency connector used for coaxial cable. It is designed to maintain the same characteristic impedance of the cable, with 50 ohm and 75 ohm types being made.

BYOD

(Bring Your Own Device): The practice of allowing users to use their own personal devices to connect to an organizational network.

CAM

(Content Addressable Memory-table): Is a special type of computer memory used in certain very-high-speed searching applications.

CAN

(Campus Area Network): A network that covers an area equivalent to an academic

campus or business park.

CDMA

(Code Division Multiple Access): A cellular standard that uses spread-spectrum technology, in which a signal is spread over a wide bandwidth so that multiple users can occupy the same channel. A cellular device on a CDMA network does not require a SIM card because, on a CDMA network, devices are compared against a white list, which is a database of subscribers that contains information on their subscriptions with the provider.

CIA

(Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability): These three form the security triad. Confidentiality helps prevent the unauthorized disclosure of data. Integrity provides assurances that data has not been modified, tampered with, or corrupted. Availability indicates that data and services are available when needed.

CIDR

(Classless Inter Domain Routing): A subnetting method that selects a subnet mask that meets an individual network's networking and node requirements and then treats the mask like a 32-bit binary word.

CLI

(Command Line Interface): A user interface to a computer's operating system or an application in which the user responds to a visual prompt by typing in a command on a specified line, receives a response back from the system, and then enters another command, and so forth.

CNAME

(Canonical Name): Specifies an alias or nickname for a canonical hostname record in a Domain Name System (DNS) database. CNAME records are used to give a single computer multiple name (aliases).

CPU

(Central Processing Unit): The internal operating unit or "brain" of a computer.

CRC

(Cyclic Redundancy Check): An algorithm (or mathematical routine) used to verify the accuracy of data contained in a data frame.

CSMA/CA

(Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance): A network multiple access method used in computer networking.

CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection)

(Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection): A protocol (or rule) used by computer ethernet networks. It stops computers from sending information on the same ethernet wire at the same time.

CSU/DSU (Channel Service Unit)

(Channel Service Unit): A combination of two WAN connectivity devices on a Frame Relay network that work together to connect a digital WAN line with a customer's LAN.

CVE

(Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures): A dictionary of publicly known security vulnerabilities and exposures.

CWDM

(Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing): A multiplexing technique used over single-mode or multimode fiber-optic cable in which each signal is assigned a different wavelength for its carrier wave. In CWDM, channels are spaced more widely apart than in DWDM to allow for the use of cheaper transceiver equipment.

DaaS

(Desktop as a Service): Software that separates the desktop environment and associated application software from the physical client device that is used to access it.

dB

(Decibel): A unit used for measuring voltage, current or power. The decibel is often used to measure differences in sound pressure level or relative loudness.

DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service)

(Distributed Denial of Service): An attack on a computer or network device in which multiple computers send data and requests to the device in an attempt to overwhelm it so that it cannot perform normal operations.

DHCP

(Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol): A network service that provides automatic assignment of IP addresses and other TCP /IP configuration information.

DLP

(Data Loss Prevention): System or set of rules designed to stop leakage of sensitive information. Usually applied to Internet appliances to monitor outgoing network traffic.

DNS

(Domain Name System): The Internet's system for converting alphabetic names into numeric IP addresses.

DoS

(Denial of Service): An attack on a computer resource that prevents it from performing its normal operations, usually by overwhelming it with large numbers of requests in an effort to monopolize its resources.

DSL

(Digital Subscriber Line): A telephone line that carries digital data from end to end, and is used as a type of broadband Internet access.

DSU

(Data Service Unit): A network communications device that formats and controls data for transmission over digital lines. A DSU is used with a CSU (Channel Service Unit).

DWDM

(Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing): A multiplexing technology that uses light wavelengths to transmit data.

EAP

(Extensible Authentication Protocol): A protocol that enables systems to use hardware-based identifiers, such as fingerprint scanners or smart card readers, for authentication.

EIA

(Electronic Industries Association): Provides a unique forum for the discussion of technical issues and development of industry standards

EIGRP

(Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol): An improvement over IGRP that includes features that support VLSM and classful and classless subnet masks.

EIRP

(Effective Isotropic Radiated Power): The calculation of net gain or loss of a signal's strength, taking into consideration the transmission power (dBm), cable loss (dB), and antenna gain (dBi).

ESP (Encapsulating Security Payload)

(Encapsulating Security Payload): Provides connectionless integrity and the authentication of data but also confidentiality when sending data (CIA!)

EUI (Extended Unique Identifier)

(Extended Unique Identifier): Allows a host to assign itself a unique 64-bit IPv6 interface identifier called a EUI-64

FCoE

(Fibre Channel over Ethernet): A technology that encapsulates Fibre Channel frames over Ethernet networks allowing FC to use 10 Gigabit Ethernet networks (or higher) while preserving the Fibre Channel protocol.

FHRP (First Hop Redundancy Protocol)

(First Hop Redundancy Protocol): A computer networking protocol which is designed to protect the default gateway used on a subnetwork by allowing two or more routers to provide backup for that address.

FTP

(File Transfer Protocol): A protocol used to move files and folders over a network or the Internet.

GBIC (Gigabit Interface Converter)

(Gigabit Interface Converter): A transceiver used to convert electrical signals into optical signals and vice versa.

GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation)

(Generic Routing Encapsulation): A tunneling protocol developed by Cisco that is used to transmit PPP data frames through a VPN tunnel. GRE encapsulates PPP frames to make them take on the temporary identity of IP packets at Layer 3. To the WAN, messages look like inconsequential IP traffic.

GSM

(Global System for Mobile Communications): An open standard for cellular WANs and cell phones that uses digital communication of data and is accepted and used worldwide.

HA

(High Availability): The property that defines how closely systems approach the goal of providing data availability 100 percent of the time while maintaining a high level of system performance.

HDMI

(High-Definition Multimedia Interface): A digital audio and video interface standard currently used on televisions and other home theater equipment and expected to ultimately replace DVI.

HIDS

(Host Intrusion Detection System): A intrusion detection system that is based at the host (rather than the network). It monitors and analyzes data coming to and from the host.

HIPS

(Host Intrusion Prevention System): A intrusion prevention system that is based at the host (rather than the network). It responds and reacts to threats coming to and from the host.

HTTP

(Hypertext Transfer Protocol): The protocol used for transmitting web pages over the Internet.

HVAC

(Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning): A physical security control that increases availability by regulating airflow within data centers and server rooms.

IaaS

(Infrastructure as a Service): A method that provides network resources such as for storage and allow the client can deploy software and add network components such as firewalls.

IBSS

(Independent Basic Service Set): A peer-to-peer network where each wireless station acts as both a client and a wireless AP.

ICMP

(Internet Control Message Protocol): A core protocol in the TCP/IP suite that notifies the sender that something has gone wrong in the transmission process and that packets were not delivered.

ICS

(Industrial Control System): A network managing embedded devices (computer systems that are designed to perform a specific, dedicated function).

IDF

(Intermediate Distribution Frame): A cable rack that interconnects the telecommunications wiring between an MDF and any workstation devices.

IDS

(Intrusion Detection System): A software and/ or hardware system that scans, audits, and monitors the security infrastructure for signs of attacks in progress.

IGMP

(Internet Group Management Protocol): A protocol in the TCP /IP suite that supports multicasting in a routed environment.

IMAP

(Internet Message Access Protocol): A common protocol for retrieving email messages via the Internet (Port 143).

IoT

(Internet of Things): A computing concept that describes a future where everyday physical objects will be connected to the Internet and be able to identify themselves to other devices.

IP

(Internet Protocol): The protocol that determines how to address nodes on the network (with IP addresses) and how to route data from one node to a destination node (using routers).

IPS

(Intrusion Prevention System): An active, inline security device that monitors suspicious network and/ or system traffic and reacts in real time to block it Also called a Network Intrusion Prevention System (NIPS).

IPSec

(Internet Protocol Security): A set of open, non-proprietary standards that you can use to secure data as it travels across the network or the Internet through data authentication and encryption.

IPv4

(Internet Protocol Version 4): A suite of protocols used for communication on a local area network and for accessing the Internet.

IPv6

(Internet Protocol version 6): Protocol in which addresses consist of eight sets of four hexadecimal numbers, each number being a value between 0000 and FFFF, using a colon to separate the numbers. Here's an example: FEDC:BA98:7654:3210:0800:200C:00CF:1234.

iSCSI

(Internet Small Computer System Interface): An IP-based storage networking standard for linking data storage facilities.

ISP

(Internet Service Provider): A company that provides customers access to the Internet.

LACP

(Link Aggregation Control Protocol): A network specification that enables the bundling of several physical ports together to form a single logical channel.

LAN

(Local Area Network): A network of computers and other devices that is confined to a relatively small space, such as one building or even one office.

LC

(Local Connector): A small form factor ceramic ferrule connector for both singlemode and multimode fiber.

LDAP

(Lightweight Directory Access Protocol): A communications protocol that defines how a client can access information, perform operations, and share directory data on a server (PORT 389).

LDAPS

(Lightweight Directory Access Protocol over SSL): LDAPS allows for the encryption of LDAP data (which includes user credentials) in transit during any communication with the LDAP server (like a directory bind), thereby protecting against credential theft.

LED

(Light-Emitting Diode): A technology used in an LCD monitor that uses less mercury than earlier technologies.

LLDP

(Link Layer Discovery Protocol): A protocol used by network devices for advertising on an IEEE 802 local area network.

LTE

(Long Term Evolution): A 4G cellular network technology that achieves downlink data rates of up to 1 Gbps and uplink rates up to 500 Mbps. AT&T and Verizon have adopted LTE for their high-speed wireless data networks.

MAC

(Media Access Control): A sub-layer of the Data Link layer of the OSI model that is responsible for sensing the presence of data frames on a medium and allowing the nodes to access the medium.

MAN

(Metropolitan Area Network): A network that covers an area equivalent to a city or other municipality.

MDF

(Main Distribution Frame): Also known as the main cross connect, the first point of interconnection between an organization's LAN or WAN and a service provider's facility.

MDIX

(Media Dependent Interface Crossover): A type of port found on Ethernet networking devices in which the wiring is crossed so that the transmit line of one device becomes the receive line of the other. MDI-X is used to connect hubs and switches to client computers.

MFA

(Multifactor Authentication): An authentication scheme that requires the user to present at least two different factors as credentials, from something you know, something you have, something you are, something you do, and somewhere you are. Specifying two factors is known as 2FA.

mGRE

(Multipoint Generic Routing Encapsulation): A tunneling protocol that can encapsulate a number of OSI layer 3 protocols.

MIB

(Management Information Base): A database used in network management that contains a list of objects managed by the NMS and their descriptions as well as data about each object's performance.

MIMO

(Multiple Input-Multiple Output): In the context of 802.11n wireless networking, the ability for access points to issue multiple signals to stations, thereby multiplying the signal's strength and increasing their range and data-carrying capacity. Because the signals follow multipath propagation, they must be phase-adjusted when they reach their destination.

MU-MIMO

(Multi User-Multiple in, Multiple Out): The ability to communicate with up to four devices simultaneously. Introduced in 802.11ac

MOU

(Memorandum Of Understanding): An agreement (bilateral or multilateral) between parties defining terms and conditions of an agreement.

MPLS

(Multiprotocol Label Switching): A network technology defined by a set of IETF specifications that enable Layer 3 devices, such as routers, to establish and manage network traffic.

MSS

(Maximum Segment Size): Limits the size of packets, or small chunks of data, that travel across a network, such as the Internet. All data that travels over a network is broken up into packets.

MTBF

(Mean Time Between Failure): Measures the system's reliability by identifying the average time between failures

MT-RJ

(Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack): Sometimes called a Fiber Jack connector, it is a compact snap-to-lock connector used with multimode fiber.

MTTR

(Mean Time To Repair): Average length of time required to perform a repair on the device.

MTU

(Maximum Transmission Unit): The largest IP packet size in bytes allowable by routers in a path without fragmentation and excluding the frame size.

MX

(Mail Exchange): A DNS record that maps a domain name to a mail exchange server list.

NAC

(Network Access Control): A term that refers to collected protocols, policies, and hardware that govern access on devices to and from a network.

NAS

(Network Attached Storage): A specialized storage device or group of storage devices that provides centralized fault-tolerant data storage for a network. NAS depends on traditional network transmission methods such as Ethernet.

NAT

(Network Address Translation): A technique often used to conserve IP addresses by maps devices on a private network to single Internet-connected device that acts on their behalf.

NDA

(Non-Disclosure Agreement): A signed agreement between a company and an agency in which the agency promises they will not disclose or share confidential information.

NDP

(Neighbor Discovery Protocol): A protocol that is part of the IPv6 protocol suite, used to discover and exchange information about devices on the same subnet (neighbors). In particular, it replaces the IPv4 ARP protocol.