Networking Concepts 1.1.1

What is a network?

Two or more computer systems linked by a transmission medium that share one or more protocols to exchange data.

Nodes (in networking)

Devices that send, receive, and forward data.

Links (in networking)

The communications pathways between nodes.

What are the two general kinds of nodes?

Intermediate nodes (forwarding function) and End systems (send and receive data traffic).

Another common term for End Systems?

Hosts.

Server (role in a network)

A host that makes network applications and resources available to other hosts.

Client (role in a network)

A host that consumes the services provided by servers.

Client-Server Network

A network where servers centrally provision, manage, and secure application services and resources, and other nodes act mostly as clients.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Network

A decentralized network where each host acts as both client and server. Provision, management, and security are distributed.

Workgroup

Another term for a small peer-to-peer network.

Appliance (network component)

A specialized computer (physical or virtual) with an OS/software designed to perform a particular network role (e.g., switches, routers, firewalls).

Physical Appliance

An appliance where the OS/software runs on its own dedicated CPU, memory, storage, and network interfaces.

Virtual Appliance

An appliance where the OS is deployed as a virtual machine running on a hypervisor computing platform.

Applications (network component)

Shared services that allow the network to do useful work, such as file sharing or email.

Functions (network component)

Additional properties or features a network is configured with, such as VPN security or Quality of Service (QoS).