2) Networking Fundamentals

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the fundamental concepts of networking, including device roles, network types, architectures, topologies, and communication methods as outlined in the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 curriculum.

Computer Network

A system of interconnected computers and other devices that communicate and share resources and information, categorized by size and structure.

Hosts

Devices or systems on a network that use, provide, or share resources and services, generally any device with an IP address.

Server

A computer or system that provides resources, data, services, or programs to other computers, known as clients, over a network.

Workstation

A high-performance computer designed for technical or scientific applications, often used by one person at a time.

Client machine

A computer or device that accesses services, applications, or resources provided by a server over a network.

Network Devices

Hardware such as routers, switches, Access Points (AP), and firewalls that allow servers, workstations, and client computers to connect and share resources.

Local Area Network (LAN)

A network covering a small geographic area like a home, office, or building, typically used for sharing files and printers.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A network spanning a large geographic area, often a country or continent, with the internet being the largest example.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

A network that covers a larger area than a LAN but smaller than a WAN, such as an entire city.

Campus Area Network (CAN)

A type of network that interconnects multiple local area networks (LANs) within a limited geographical area, such as a university or corporate campus.

Storage Area Network (SAN)

A high-speed network providing access to consolidated data storage, enhancing devices like disk arrays so they appear as locally attached to servers.

Personal Area Network (PAN)

A network covering a very small area, usually within a single room, such as Bluetooth connections between a phone and a headset.

Peer-to-peer network

A decentralized architecture where each device acts as both a client and a server, allowing direct sharing without a central server.

Client-server network

An architecture where multiple client devices connect to a central server that manages and provides shared resources and applications.

Network backbone

The main infrastructure interconnecting network segments, typically composed of high-speed links and core routers or switches.

Network segments

Smaller subnetworks or clusters of devices, often representing different departments, that connect to the backbone for resource access.

Network topologies

The layout or arrangement of elements like links and nodes in a computer network, influencing performance and reliability.

Point-to-Point topology

A direct connection between two networking devices using a single cable or wireless link, often used for dedicated office-to-branch connections.

Mesh topology

A network setup where each host is connected to every other host; it is highly fault-tolerant but complex and expensive.

Star/Hub-and-Spoke topology

A setup where all nodes connect to a central node like a switch or AP; it simplifies management but has a single point of failure.

Hybrid topology

A combination of two or more different topologies that leverages the advantages and mitigates the disadvantages of the constituent types.

Three-tier Hierarchical Model

A structured approach to network design consisting of the Core Layer, Distribution Layer, and Access Layer.

Core Layer

The backbone of the network responsible for fast, reliable routing and high-speed packet switching with high redundancy.

Distribution Layer

The intermediary level managing routing, filtering, and WAN access; it aggregates data from the access layer to the core.

Access Layer

The network's point of entry for end users and devices, including switches and access points for PCs and laptops.

Spine and Leaf architecture

A two-layer topology where leaf switches (access) connect to all spine switches (backbone) to ensure low latency and high scalability.

Collapsed Core Architecture

A design that merges the core and distribution layers into one, ideal for small to medium-sized networks to reduce hardware costs.

North-South Traffic

Describes the flow of network traffic between the data center and the outside world, such as the internet.

East-West Traffic

Refers to the internal traffic flow within a data center, such as server-to-server or VM-to-VM communication.

Unicast

A one-to-one communication method where data is sent from one source to a specific destination identified by a unique IP address.

Multicast

A method where data is sent from one source to multiple destinations simultaneously using a specific group address.

Anycast

A routing method where data is sent to the nearest or best destination among multiple potential destinations sharing the same address.

Broadcast

A communication method where a message is sent to all potential receivers within a network segment; used in IPv4 but not supported in IPv6.