Networks Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE ICT

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering network hardware, IP/MAC addressing, wireless technologies, cloud computing, network environments, and network types.

Router

A device responsible for routing data packets between different networks and connecting local area networks (LAN) to the wider internet (WAN).

Data packets

Small 'chunks' of data that make up a larger piece of data, broken down for transmission over the internet.

Header (Data Packet)

The part of a data packet that contains the source IP address, the destination IP address, and the packet number (e.g., 1 of 5).

Payload (Data Packet)

The actual data being transported in a packet, such as text, images, or audio.

Trailer (Data Packet)

The part of a data packet containing an end of packet notification, error checking (checksums), and less commonly, additional security information.

IP (Internet Protocol) address

A unique identifier given to devices communicating over the internet (WAN) which is dynamic and changes if the device moves to a different network.

IPv4

Internet Protocol version 4, represented as $4$ blocks of denary numbers between $0$ and $255$ ($32$ bits total), providing over $4$ billion ($2^{32}$) unique addresses.

IPv6

Internet Protocol version $6$, represented as $8$ blocks of $4$ hexadecimal digits ($128$ bits total), providing over ($2^{128}$) unique addresses.

Network Interface Card (NIC)

Hardware required for a computer to connect to a network, allowing it to send and receive both wired and wireless data.

Hub

A 'dumb' networking device that connects multiple devices and passes on any received data to all other connections on the network.

Switch

A device that connects multiple devices on a network and improves efficiency by only sending data to the specific device for which it was intended using a lookup table.

MAC (Media Access Control) address

A unique, static identifier assigned to a NIC during manufacturing, represented as $12$ hexadecimal digits ($48$ bits) used for communication over a LAN.

OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifier)

The first three pairs of a MAC address which identify the manufacturer ID number.

Bridge

A network device used to connect two local area networks (LANs) together to create one larger network.

Wireless network

A network where connections are made using radio waves to transmit data through the air, commonly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Wireless Access Point (WAP)

A device or built-in component that allows wireless devices to communicate via radio waves, typically with a range of up to $100\,m$.

Bluetooth

A wireless standard using radio waves for direct connection between two devices, typically for short-range ($30\,m$) personal communication.

FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum)

A method used by Bluetooth where devices continuously change transmitting frequency between $79$ different channels to avoid interference.

Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN)

A network created when two Bluetooth devices pair and exchange cryptographic keys to encrypt data between them.

Cloud storage

The long-term (secondary) storage of data on remote servers accessed via a wide area network (Internet) using magnetic or solid-state storage.

Public cloud

A type of cloud storage where the customer and the cloud storage provider are two different companies.

Private cloud

A type of cloud storage where the customer and the service provider are a single organization.

Hybrid cloud

A cloud storage model that combines public and private options, keeping sensitive data private while using public services for less sensitive information.

Internet

A global network of interconnected networks (LANs) that form a large wide area network (WAN).

World Wide Web

A collection of interconnected documents and multimedia files stored on web servers and accessed using a web browser over the internet.

Intranet

A private network operating within a LAN, designed to share information and resources exclusively with authorized employees behind a firewall.

Extranet

An extension to an intranet that provides managed, authorized access from outside the local area network to customers, clients, or stakeholders.

LAN (Local Area Network)

A network covering a small geographical area (under $1\,mile$) where all hardware is typically owned by the organization or household.

WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network)

A local area network where devices connect wirelessly using Wireless Access Points (WAPs) or hotspots instead of cables.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

A network covering a large geographical area (over $1\,mile$), consisting of multiple LANs joined by routers often using telecommunication lines or satellites.