Chapter 7: Networking, Connecting Computing Devices

Network

Two or more computers that are connected via software and hardware to communication

Network Administration

Installing new computers, monitoring the network, updating and configuring

Network Architecture

Distance between nodes, managed, set of protocol, communication medium

Personal Area Network

network used for communication among devices close to one person

Local Area Network

Small geographic area

Home Area Network

connect all of a home's digital devices

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

provide access to a specific geographic area

Wide Area Network

large physical distance

Client/Server Network

Central administration: tasks performed from one computer can affect the other computers on the network

Peer to Peer Network

Local administration, locally administered networked for each individual computer attached to the network

Ethernet Network

Nodes on the network communicate

Transmission Media

establish a communication channel

Twisted pair cable

made up copper wires that are twisted around each other and surrounded by a plastic jacket

Unshielded twisted pair cable

used for networks to reduce electrical interference

Fiber optic cable

transmit data at extremely data speeds

Bandwith

maximum speed at which data can be transmitted between two

Throughput

actual speed of data transfer

wiFi

standard for wireless transmissions using radio waves to connect computing devices to wireless networks and the Internet

Packets

transmit data through a network

router

transfers packets of data between two or more networks

Switch

acts like traffic signal on a network

Network Operating System (NOS)

control client/server networks

Wireless Router (gateway)

device that attaches to a network and provides wireless nodes to connect to the network

wireless access point (WAP)

extending the range of the network

BBroadband

high speed of internet

Hacker

breaks into computer systems to create mischief or steal information

Dial up Connection

standard phone line and a modern to access the Internet

Netowrk-attached storage (NAS)

specialized devices designed to store and manage network data

Home network server

specialized devices designed to store files, share files across network and back up files on computers connected to the network

Network Ready Device

connected directly to a network through a wired or wireless connection

Piggybacking

connecting to a wireless network without the permission of the owner

Firmware

read only memory that has software written to it