Chapter 5: Networking Fundamentals – Vocabulary Flashcards (Video Notes)

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering networking hardware, media, standards, models, and topologies from the networking fundamentals chapter.

Router

Device that forwards data between networks, typically connecting a local network to the Internet.

Switch (Managed)

Network switch with configurable features such as VLANs, QoS, and management access.

Switch (Unmanaged)

Basic plug-and-play switch with no management features.

Access Point

Wireless device that connects wireless clients to a wired LAN.

Patch Panel

Passive panel used to organize and terminate incoming/outgoing network cables.

Firewall

Security device or software that monitors and filters traffic between networks.

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

Delivers electrical power over Ethernet cables to compatible devices.

PoE Injector

Device that adds PoE to a network link to power PoE-enabled devices.

PoE Standards

IEEE standards for PoE power levels (e.g., PoE, PoE+, PoE++).

Hub

Legacy multiport device that broadcasts data to all ports (less common today).

Cable Modem

Modem provided by a cable operator to provide Internet access over coaxial cables.

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

Internet access technology using telephone lines for data transmission.

Optical Network Terminal (ONT)

Fiber demarcation device that converts optical signals to electrical signals for the customer premises.

Network Interface Card (NIC)

Hardware that enables a device to connect to a network.

Software-Defined Networking (SDN)

Architecture that centralizes network control in software and separates control from data forwarding.

Local Area Network (LAN)

Network that covers a small geographic area, like a building or campus.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Network that spans a broad geographic area, connecting multiple LANs.

Personal Area Network (PAN)

Very small-scale network around an individual, usually wireless.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

Network that covers a larger area such as a city or campus.

Storage Area Network (SAN)

Dedicated network for high-speed data transfer between servers and storage devices.

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

LAN that uses wireless communication (Wi-Fi) for connectivity.

Copper

Copper-based networking cable used for Ethernet (twisted-pair).

Cat 5

Category 5 copper cabling; historically up to 100 Mbps (now superseded by Cat 5e/6).

Cat 5e

Enhanced Cat 5 cable with better performance and reduced cross-talk.

Cat 6

Higher-performance copper cable supporting higher frequencies and speeds than Cat 5e.

Cat 6a

Augmented Cat 6 cable with improved performance/attenuation, often supporting 10 Gbps over longer distances.

Plenum Cable

Cable rated for use in plenum spaces (air-handling spaces) for fire safety.

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

Twisted-pair cabling with shielding to reduce interference.

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

Common copper cabling without shielding.

Direct Burial

Cable rated for burial directly in the ground.

Fiber (Optical Cable)

Cable that uses light to transmit data via glass or plastic fibers.

Single-mode Fiber (SMF)

Fiber type for long-distance transmission using a single light mode.

Multimode Fiber (MMF)

Fiber type for shorter distances using multiple light modes.

T568A

RJ-45 termination color code standard used for Ethernet cabling.

T568B

Alternative RJ-45 termination color code standard for Ethernet cabling.

RJ11

Telephone-style connector used for voice lines and some modems.

RJ45

Eight-pin Ethernet connector used for network cables.

F-Type

Coaxial connector commonly used for cable TV and Internet.

Straight Tip (ST)

Fiber optic connector type with a straight, cylindrical tip.

Subscriber Connector (SC)

Fiber optic connector with a push-pull design used in many networks.

Lucent Connector (LC)

Small form-factor fiber optic connector with a latch release.

Punchdown Block

Termination block used to connect and organize copper cabling.

RG-6

Coaxial cable commonly used for cable TV and Internet signals.

RG-59

Coaxial cable used for RF/video with lower bandwidth than RG-6.

BNC

Coaxial connector historically used with coax networks.

802.3 CSMA/CD

Ethernet access method that detects collisions and manages data transmission.

802.11

IEEE standard for wireless networking (Wi‑Fi).

CSMA/CA

Collision avoidance mechanism used by Wi‑Fi networks.

OSI Model

Seven-layer conceptual framework for network protocols: Application, Presentation, Session, Transport, Network, Data Link, Physical.

Application Layer

Top OSI layer that provides network services to end-user applications.

Presentation Layer

OSI layer handling data representation, encryption, and compression.

Session Layer

OSI layer that manages sessions between communicating applications.

Transport Layer

OSI layer providing end-to-end communication, reliability, and flow control.

Network Layer

OSI layer responsible for routing packets across networks.

Data Link Layer

OSI layer handling MAC addressing and frame transfer over a link.

Physical Layer

OSI layer that transmits raw bit streams over the physical medium.

NIC Drivers

Software that enables an operating system to communicate with the NIC hardware.

OpenFlow (SDN API)

A common API used in SDN to program the forwarding behavior of switches.

SDN Controller

Centralized software component that manages network control plane logic.