Dedicated to Dr. Kilgore

Computer Network

A network is a group of computers connected together in a way that allows information to be exchanged between the computers.

Packet

A piece of a message transmitted over a packet-switching network.

Local Area Network (LAN)

Technologies connect many devices that are relatively close to each other, usually in the same building

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Technologies connect a smaller number of devices that can be many kilometers apart

Node

A node is anything that is connected to the network. While a node is typically a computer, it can also be something like a printer or CD-ROM tower.

Media Access Control (MAC)

This is the physical address of any device -- such as the NIC in a computer -- on the network.

Ip Address

An IP address is an identifier for a computer or device on a TCP/IP network.

Bus Topology

 Each node is daisy-chained (connected one right after the other) along the same backbone, similar to Christmas light.

Ring Topology

A ring network is a network topology in which each node connects to exactly two other nodes, forming a single continuous pathway for signals through each node.

Network Token

A special series of bits that travels around a token-ring network.

Star Topology

A star topology is a topology for a Local Area Network (LAN) in which all nodes are individually connected to a central connection point, like a hub or a switch.

Tree Topology

A tree topology combines characteristics of linear bus and star topologies.

Protocool

 A set of guidelines for implementing networking communications between computers.

Peer - Peer Architecture

A type of network in which each workstation has equivalent capabilities and responsibilities.

Client/Server Architecture

Client-server architecture (client/server) is a network architecture in which each computer or process on the network is either a client or a server.