Computer Science Illuminated Ch 15 Vocab

Networks

Access control policy

A set of rules established by an organization that specify which types of network communication are permitted and denied

Broadband

Network technologies that generally provide data transfer speeds greater than 256 Kbps

Bus topology

A LAN configuration in which all nodes share a common line

Cable modem

A device that allows computer network communication using the cable TV hookup in a home

Client/server model

A distributed approach in which a client makes requests of a server and the server responds

Cloud computing

A service that provides storage space and other resources on the Internet

Computer network

A collection of computing devices connected so that they can communicate and share resources

Data transfer rate (bandwidth)

The speed with which data is moved from one place to another on a network

Digital subscriber line (DSL)

An Internet connection made using a digital signal on regular phone lines

Domain name

The part of a hostname that specifies a specific organization or group

Domain name server

A computer that attempts to translate a hostname into an IP address

Domain name system

A distributed system for managing hostname resolution

Domain squatting

Purchasing a domain name with the sole intent of selling it at a high price to a person or organization that actually wants to use it

Download

Receiving data on a local computer from the Internet

Ethernet

The industry standard for local-area networks, based on a bus topology

File server

A computer dedicated to storing and managing files for network users

Firewall

A gateway machine and software that protects a network by filtering the traffic it allows

Gateway

A node that handles communication between its LAN and other networks

Host number

A number that forms part of a host’s IP Address

Hostname

A name made up of words separated by dots that uniquely identifies a computer on the Internet; each hostname corresponds to a particular IP address

ICANN

The international organization that approves top-level domain names

Internet

A wide-area network that spans the planet

Internet backbone

A set of high-speed networks carrying Internet traffic

Internet Protocol (IP)

The network protocol that deals with the routing of packets through interconnected networks to the final destination

Internet service provider (ISP)

An organization providing access to the Internet

Interoperability

The ability of software and hardware on multiple machines and from multiple commercial vendors to communicate

IP address

An address made up of numeric values separated by dots that uniquely identifies a computer on the Internet

Local-area network (LAN)

A network connecting a small number of nodes in a close geographic area

Metropolitan-area network (MAN)

A network infrastructure developed for a large city

MIME type

A standard for defining the format of files that are included as email attachments or on websites

Network address

Any logical or physical address that uniquely distinguishes a network node or device over a network.

Node (host)

Any addressable device attached to a network

Open system

A system that is based on a common model of network architecture and an accompanying suite of protocols

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model

A seven-layer logical breakdown of network interaction to facilitate communication standards

Packet

A unit of data sent across a network

Packet switching

The approach to network communication in which packets are individually routed to their destination, then reassembled.

Phone modem

A device that converts computer data into an analog audio signal and back again

Ping

A program used to test whether a particular network computer is active and reachable

Port

A numeric designation corresponding to a particular high-level protocol

Proprietary system

A system that uses technologies kept private by a particular commercial vendor

Protocol

A set of rules that defines how data is formatted and processed on a network

Protocol stack

Layers of protocols that build and rely on each other

Repeater

A network device that strengthens and propagates a signal along a long communication line

Ring topology

A LAN configuration in which all nodes are connected in a closed loop

Router

A network device that directs a packet between networks toward its final destination

Star topology

A LAN configuration in which a central node controls all message traffic

TCP/IP

A suite of protocols and programs that support low-level network communication

Top-level domain (TLD)

The last section of a domain name, specifying the type of organization or its country of origin

Traceroute

A program that shows the route a packet takes across the Internet

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)

The network protocol that breaks messages into packets, reassembles them at the destination, and takes care of errors

Upload

Sending data from a local computer to a destination on the Internet

User Datagram Protocol (UDP)

An alternative to TCP that achieves higher transmission speeds at the cost of reliability

Web server

A computer dedicated to responding to requests for web pages

Wide-area network (WAN)

A network connecting two or more local-area networks

Wireless

A network connection made without physical wires