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)

 Local area network (LAN) technologies connect many devices that are relatively close to each other, usually in the same building.

Wide area network (wan)

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. The MAC address, which is made up of two equal parts, is 6 bytes long. The first 3 bytes identify the company that made the NIC. The second 3 bytes are the serial number of the NIC itself.

IP address

An IP (Internet Protocol) Address is an alphanumeric label assigned to computers and other devices that connect to a network using an internet protocol. This address allows these devices to send and receive data over the internet. Every device that is capable of connecting to the internet has a unique IP address.

Bus topology

Each node is daisy-chained (connected one right after the other) along the same backbone, similar to Christmas lights. Information sent from a node travels along the backbone until it reaches its destination node.

Ring topology

In a ring network, each node takes a turn sending and receiving information through the use of a token. The token, along with any data, is sent from the first node to the second node, which extracts the data addressed to it and adds any data it wishes to send. Then, the second node passes the token and data to the third node, and so on until it comes back around to the first node again. Only the node with the token is allowed to send data. All other nodes must wait for the token to come to them.

network token

A token is a special series of bits that travels around a token-ring network. As the token circulates, computers attached to the network can capture it. The token acts like a ticket, enabling its owner to send a message across the network. 

Star topology

In a star network, each node is connected to a central device called a hub. The hub takes a signal that comes from any node and passes it along to all the other nodes in the network.

tree topology

A tree topology combines characteristics of linear bus and star topologies. It consists of groups of star-configured workstations connected to a linear bus backbone cable.

protocol

An agreed-upon format for transmitting data between two devices. The protocol determines the following:

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.