Networking and IT Infrastructures - Chapter 1 Vocabulary

server

Computer hardware or software that is used by multiple concurrent users or provides services to many users. For example, a web server consists of a web server software running on some computer.

client

A network device that accesses a service on another computer remotely through a network

end device

Either the source or destination of a message transmitted over a network

intermediary device

A device that connects end devices to the network and can connect multiple individual networks to form an internetwork.

topology

The arrangement networking components or nodes. Examples include star, extended star, ring and mesh.

small office and home office (SOHO)

A network in which computers can connect to a corporate network or access centralized, shared resources.

local-area networks (LANs)

A network infrastructure that provides access to users and end devices in a small geographic area, which is typically an enterprise, a home or a small business network owned and managed by an individual or an IT department.

wide-area networks (WANs)

A network infrastructure that provides access to other networks over a wide geographic area, which is typically owned and managed by a telecommunications service provider.

internet

A network that combines enterprise networks, individual users, and ISPs into a single global IP network.

intranet

A private connection of LANs and WANs that belongs to an organization and that is designed to be accessible only by the organization’s members, employees, or others with authorization.

extranet

Part of a network that provides secure and safe access to individuals who work for a different organization but require access to the organization’s data.

internet service provider (ISP)

a company that helps create the internet by providing connectivity to enterprises and individuals, as well as interconnecting to other ISPs to create connectivity to all other ISPs

digital subscriber line (DSL)

An always-on internet service that provides high bandwidth and high availability. Voice and data signals are carried on different frequencies on the copper telephone wires. In general, small office and home office users connect using Asymmetrical DSL (ADSL), which means that the download speed is faster than the upload speed.

cellular connection

Cellular internet access that uses a cell phone network to connect Wherever a user can get a cellular signal, the user can get cellular internet access. Performance is limited by the capabilities of the phone and the cell tower to which it is connected.

satellite connection

Internet access provided using satellites and satellite dishes to serve areas that would otherwise have no internet connectivity at all. A satellite dish requires a clear line of sight to the satellite.

dial-up telephone connection

An inexpensive communications option that uses any phone line and a modem. The low bandwidth provided by a dial-up modem connection is not sufficient for large data transfer, although it is useful for mobile access while traveling.

converged data network

A network that aggregates various forms of traffic, such as voice, video and data, on the same network infrastructure.

fault-tolerant network

A term for limiting the impact of a failure so that the fewest number of devices are affected and for the shortest time.

scalable network

A network that can expand quickly to support new users and applications.

quality of service (QoS)

A control mechanism that can provide different priorities to different users or data flows or guarantee a certain level of performance to a data flow in accordance with requests from the application program.

confidentiality

The state of ensuring that only intended and authorized recipients- individuals, processes or devices- can access and read data. Accomplished by having a strong system for user authentication, enforcing passwords that are difficult to guess and requiring users to change passwords frequently. Encrypting data so that only the intended recipient can read it is also part of confidentiality.

integrity

The assurance that information has not been altered in transmission from origin to destination. Data integrity can be compromised when information has been corrupted- willfully or accidentally. Data integrity is made possible by requiring validation of the sender as well as using mechanisms to validate that the packet has not changed during transmission.

availability

The assurance of timely and reliable access to data services for authorized users. Network firewall devices,

bring your own device (BYOD)

A policy that allows end users to use personal tools to access information and communicate across a business or campus network.

cloud computing

Computing resources (hardware and software) delivered as a service over a network. A company uses hardware and software in the cloud, and a service fee is charged.

powerline networking

An emerging trend for home networking that uses existing electrical wiring to connect devices

wireless internet service provider (WISP)

An ISP that connects subscribers to a designated access point or hotspot using wireless technologies similar to those found home wireless local-area networks (WLANS).