A group of computers that are connected together in a way that allows information to be exchanged between one another.

Computer Network

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

Packet

Local area network, also known as LAN, technologies connect many devices that are relatively close to each other.

Local Area Network (LAN)

Similarly to LAN, Wide area network (WAN) also connect technologies together. However, WAN connects a smaller number of devices than LAN, but they can be many kilometers apart.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A node is anything that is connected to the network, mainly a computer but can be many things such as printers and other devices.

Node

This is the physical address of any device, made up of two equal parts, 6 bytes long each. The first 3 bytes identify the company that made the Network Interface Card (NIC). The second 3 bytes are the serial number of the NIC itself.

Media Access Control (MAC)

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. 

IP Address

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

Bus Topology

Similarly to a bus network, rings have the nodes daisy-chained. The difference is that the end of the network comes back around to the first node, creating a complete circuit.

Ring Topology

A special series of bits that travels around a token-ring network. As the token circulates, computers attached to the network can capture it. A token could be a keyword, an operator, or a punctuation mark.

Network Token

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.

Star Topology

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

Tree Topology

An agreed-upon format for transmitting data between two devices. Protocols are used for sending and receiving messages through devices.

Protocol

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

Peer-Peer Architecture

A network architecture in which each computer or process on the network is either a client or a server.

Client/Server Architecture

A network hub is a device that allows multiple computers that are connected to ethernet ports built into the hub to communicate with each other over a network.

Hubs