Computer Network- A group of computers that are arranged so that information and resources can be passed between them and other nodes

Packet- Information is divided up into smaller chunks called packets before transport

Local Area Network- A type network that connects devices that are in a relatively small area (e.g. school)

Wide Area Network- A type of network that connects devices over a large distance (e.g. city)

Node- A device that is connected to a network (e.g. printer)

Media Access Control (MSC)- the physical address of a device

First 3 bytes: company that made device

Second 3 bytes: serial number of NIC

IP Address- the identifier of a device when it is on a TCP/IP network

Bus Topology- a network setup in which all nodes are connected to a central backbone that has terminators on the ends

Ring Topology- A network setup in which nodes are connected via a circle shape, and the information needs to be passed from one node to the next until the destination is reached

Network Token- A series of bits of information that is passed a long a ring network until the destination is reached

Star Topology- A network setup in which the each node is connected to a central hub and information is transferred between nodes via the hub

Tree Topology- a network setup in which nodes connected via star topology are connected to a backbone (a combination of star and bus topologies)

Protocol- an agreed upon format for data to be transferred between devices

Determines: the type of error that needs to be checked, method of data compression, how to indicated the termination of message sending, how to indicated accepting of message

Peer-Peer Architecture- a type of network where each workstation has eqivalent capabilities and responsibilities

Client/Server Architecture- a type of network where some devices are dedicated to helping certain ones and not the others