Module2 - Networking Fundamentals

Protocol

A formal description of a set of rules and conventions that govern how devices on a network communicate.

LAN

Local Area Network - a network that operates within a limited geographic area.

MAN

Metropolitan Area Network - a network that spans a metropolitan area, typically connecting multiple LANs.

WAN

Wide Area Network - operates over large geographically separated areas, connecting multiple LANs.

SAN

Storage Area Network - a dedicated, high-performance network for moving data between servers and storage resources.

VPN

Virtual Private Network - a private network constructed within a public network infrastructure for secure communication.

OSI Model

A framework consisting of seven layers that define networking standards for interoperability between devices.

TCP/IP Model

A four-layer model used for interconnecting different computer networks, defining internet communication protocols.

Bandwidth

The measure of how much information can flow from one place to another in a given time.

Throughput

The actual measured bandwidth, determined by factors like network devices, type of data, and user load.

Physical Topology

The actual layout of the physical media or wire in a network.

Logical Topology

The way data is transmitted and accessed within a network.

Peer-to-Peer Communication

Data exchange between two hosts at the same layer in a network model.

Encapsulation

The process of wrapping data with protocol-specific headers and trailers as it moves down the layers.

De-Encapsulation

The process of stripping headers and trailers from the data as it moves up through the layers.

Error Detection

The process of identifying errors in transmitted data to ensure data integrity.

Data Packet

A formatted unit of data carried by a packet-switched network.