Network Fundamentals

Network

A system of interconnected devices that communicate with each other to share resources, data, and applications.

Local Area Network (LAN)

A network that connects computers within a small geographic area, e.g., a home, school, or office building.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A network that spans a large geographic area, often connecting multiple LANs.

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

A LAN that uses wireless technology (Wi-Fi) instead of cables.

Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN)

A logical separation of a LAN within the same physical network to improve security and efficiency.

Storage Area Network (SAN)

A high-speed network that connects storage devices to multiple servers.

Personal Area Network (PAN)

A very small network connecting personal devices within a short range (about 10 meters).

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A secure network connection over the internet that encrypts data to protect privacy.

Topology

The arrangement and connection of devices (nodes) in a network.

Star Topology

A network topology where all devices connect to a central switch or router.

Bus Topology

A network topology where devices are connected along a single communication line.

Ring Topology

A network topology where devices are connected in a circular loop.

Mesh Topology

A network topology where every device is connected to every other device.

Hybrid Topology

A network topology that combines two or more different topologies.

Router

A device that connects multiple networks and directs data packets between them.

Switch

A device that connects multiple computers in a LAN and sends data only to the intended recipient.

Hub

An older device that broadcasts data to all devices in a network.

Modem

A device that converts digital signals to analog signals and vice versa.

Packet Switching

A method of data transmission that breaks data into packets sent individually via the fastest route.

Circuit Switching

A method of data transmission that establishes a dedicated connection before data transfer starts.

Twisted Pair Cable

A type of wired transmission media consisting of two insulated copper wires twisted together.

Fiber Optic Cable

A type of wired transmission media that uses light signals to transmit data.

Radio Waves

A type of wireless transmission media used for communication like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Latency

The delay in data transmission, measured in milliseconds.

Bandwidth

The maximum data transfer rate of a network connection, measured in Mbps or Gbps.

TCP/IP Model

A simplified framework for networking that combines various OSI model layers.

SSL/TLS

Protocols that encrypt data for secure communication, mainly used in HTTPS.

IoT (Internet of Things)

The interconnection of smart devices that communicate and exchange data over the internet.

SDN (Software-Defined Networking)

A networking approach that separates control and data planes, allowing for programmable and flexible networks.

AI in Network Security

The use of artificial intelligence to detect and prevent cyber threats in real-time.