Network - A system that transmits any combination of voice, video and/or data
between users.
Notebook (PC) - A notebook computer is a battery-powered personal computer
generally smaller than a briefcase that can easily be transported and
conveniently used in temporary spaces such as on airplanes, in libraries,
temporary offices, and at meetings. A notebook computer, sometimes called a
laptop computer, typically weighs less than five pounds and is three inches or
less in thickness.
Packet - A unit of data routed between an origin and a destination in a network.
Plug-and-Play - The ability of a computer system to configure expansion
boards and other devices automatically without requiring the user to turn off
the system during installation.
Port - A pathway into and out of the computer or a network device such as a
switch or router. For example, the serial and parallel ports on a personal
computer are external sockets for plugging in communications lines, modems
and printers.
RJ-45 (Registered Jack-45) - A connector similar to a telephone connector that
holds up to eight wires, used for connecting Ethernet devices.
Router - Protocol-dependent device that connects subnetworks together.
Routers are useful in breaking down a very large network into smaller
subnetworks; they introduce longer delays and typically have much lower
throughput rates than bridges.
Server - Any computer whose function in a network is to provide user access
to files, printing, communications, and other services.
Software - Instructions for the computer. A series of instructions that performs
a particular task is called a "program." The two major categories of software are
"system software" and "application software." System software is made up of
control programs such as the operating system and database management
system (DBMS). Application software is any program that processes data for
the user.
A common misconception is that software is data. It is not. Software tells the
hardware how to process the data.
44
Instant EtherFast
®
Series
Compact USB 2.0 10/100 Network Adapter
STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) - Telephone wire that is wrapped in a metal
sheath to eliminate external interference.
Switch - 1. A data switch connects computing devices to host computers,
allowing a large number of devices to share a limited number of ports. 2. A
device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical
circuit.
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - A method (protocol) used along with
the IP (Internet Protocol) to send data in the form of message units (datagram)
between network devices over a LAN or WAN. While IP takes care of handling
the actual delivery of the data (routing), TCP takes care of keeping track of the
individual units of data (called packets) that a message is divided into for
efficient delivery over the network. TCP is known as a "connection oriented"
protocol due to requiring the receiver of a packet to return an acknowledgment
of receipt to the sender of the packet resulting in transmission control.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - The basic
communication language or set of protocols for communications over a
network (developed specifically for the Internet). TCP/IP defines a suite or
group of protocols and not only TCP and IP.
Throughput - The amount of data moved successfully from one place to
another in a given time period.
Topology - A network's topology is a logical characterization of how the
devices on the network are connected and the distances between them. The
most common network devices include hubs, switches, routers, and gateways.
Most large networks contain several levels of interconnection, the most
important of which include edge connections, backbone connections, and
wide-area connections.
USB (Universal Serial Bus) - A "plug-and-play" interface between a computer
and peripherals, such as digital cameras, scanners, game controllers, speakers,
keyboards, portable data storage, or printers. With USB, you can add a new
peripheral to your computer without having to add an adapter card or powering
down the computer. USB also supports hot-swapping, the addition or removal
of devices while the computer is running.
USB 1.1-compliant devices support data rates of 1.5Mbps (low-speed) and up
to 12Mbps (full-speed). USB 2.0-compliant devices are backward compatible
with earlier USB devices, and they support data rates of 1.5Mbps (low-speed),
12Mbps (full-speed), and up to 480Mbps (high-speed).
45