Network Essentials and Wireless Standards

Vocabulary terms covering wireless standards, server types, networking protocols, and IP management based on the lecture notes.

2.4 GHz Network

A frequency that offers a wider range but slower speeds, often likened to crush hour traffic.

5 GHz Network

A frequency that offers faster speeds and more channels, but with a shorter range.

802.11 Wireless Standards (a, b, and g)

Standards that offer slower speeds ranging from $11\text{ mps}$ to $54\text{ mbps}$ on $2.4\text{ GHz}$. (Note: Transcript specifies $24\text{ GHz}$).

802.11n (Wifi 4)

A wireless standard reaching speeds up to $600\text{ mbps}$ utilizing both $2.4/5\text{ GHz}$ frequencies.

NFC (Near Field Communication)

A protocol used by smartphones for contactless payments, such as tapping a phone to pay.

File servers

Central storage units that act as network host powerhorse servers.

Web servers

Servers that host websites/applications and allow users to access information and interact with online services.

Print servers

Servers managed to handle multiple network printers and print jobs.

Mail servers

Servers responsible for email delivery and retrieval using protocols like POP3, SMTP, or IMAP.

DHCP servers

Servers that automatically assign a unique IP address to devices on a network.

DNS servers

Often called the internet PHONE BOOK, they handle numerical IP addresses.

IPv4

A workhorse protocol using a $32\text{-bit}$ addressing scheme with values from $0$-$255$.

IPv6

A future addressing protocol providing a larger address space using a $128\text{-bit}$ scheme.

NAT

A method used by routers to translate private LAN addresses to a single public WAN address.

Subnet Mask

A network map dividing an IP address into two parts: the network portion and the host portion.

Gateway

The exit point of a network.

A record

A DNS record used to store an IPv4 address.

AAAA record

A DNS record used to store an IPv6 address.

MX record

A DNS record that directs email to a specific mail server.

DKIM

A mechanism that adds a digital signature to emails to combat spam.

SPF (Sender Policy Framework)

Specifies which email servers are authorized to send email for a domain.

DMARC (Domain base message Authentication)

A report mechanism for DKIM and SPF results.

DHCP

A system for automating IP assignments.

Dora Process

The process where devices discover a DHCP server, receive an IP address offer, request it, and get confirmation.

DHCP Scope

The pool of available IP addresses.

VLAN (Virtual LANs)

A method to reduce collisions by dividing traffic and enhance security by isolating resources.

Port Based VLANs

VLANs where devices are assigned based on a physical switch port.

Protocol Based VLANs

VLANs where devices are assigned based on network protocols.

What is LAN?

Local area network small area home/ office

What is WAN?

Wide area network large geographic area

What is MAN?

Metropolitan area network city sized network

What is PAN?

Personal area network Bluetooth / NFC devices

What is WLAN?

Wireless LAN (wifi)

What is SAN?

Storage area network

Cable internet uses what cable?

Coaxial

DSL uses what line?

Telephone line

Fastest low latency internet?

Fiber

Remote rural internet but high latency?

Satellite

Wireless rural ISP?

WISP