Computer Network

 Definition: A set of computers sharing resources located on or provided by network nodes. They use common communication protocols over digital interconnections to communicate with each other. 

Packet

   Definition: A message transmitted over a packet-switching network. Contains the destination address in addition to the data. IP networks call packets datagrams.

Local Area Network (LAN)

   Definition: network technology that connects many devices that are relatively close to each other, such as in the same building.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

   Definition: Network technology that connects devices of a smaller number but in a bigger distance. 

Node

   Definition: Anything that is connected to the network. Normally in a computer, but can be a printer or CD-ROM tower.

Media Access Control (MSC)

   Definition:  A network data transfer policy that determines how data is transmitted between two computer terminals through a network cable.

IP Address

   Definition:

 - An alphanumeric label assigned to computers and other devices that connect to a network using the internet protocol. 

- The address allows these devices to send and receive data over the internet.

- Every device capable of connecting to the internet has an IP address. 

Bus Topology

   Definition:  Each node is connected one right after the other (daisy-chained) along the same backbone, noticeably like christmas lights. Information sent from a node travels along the backbone until it reaches the destination node.

Ring Topology

   Definition:  Similar to a bus network, however, the difference is that the end of the network comes back around to the first node, creating a complete circuit. 

Network Token

   Definition: A special series of bits that travels around a token-ring network. The token acts like a ticket, allowing the owner to send a message across the network. There is only one token for each network. 

Star Topology

   Definition: Each node is connected to a central device called a hub, which takes a signal that comes from any node and passes it along to all the other nodes in the network. It is simply a junction that joins all the different nodes together. 

Tree Topology

   Definition: A combination of characteristics of linear bus and star topologies. Consists of groups of star-configured workstations connected to linear bus backbone cable.

Protocol

   Definition: An agreed-upon format for transmitting data between two devices. 

It determines: 

- The type of error checking to be used.

- Data compression method.

- How the sending device will indicate a message being finished sent.

- How the receiving device will indicate that it has received a message.

Peer-Peer Architecture

   Definition:  Can be abbreviated P2P, a type of network in which each workstation has equivalent capabilities and responsibilities.

Client/Server Architecture 

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