Computer Network

A computer network is a set of computers connected together for the purpose of sharing resources

Packet

A data packet is a unit of data made into a single package that travels along a given network path.

Local Area Network (LAN)

A local-area network (LAN) is a computer network that spans a relatively small area.

a computer network in which the computers connected may be far apart, generally having a radius of half a mile or more

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Node

A node is anything that is connected to the network.

Media Access Control (MAC)

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

IP Address

a unique string of numbers separated by periods that identifies each computer using the Internet Protocol to communicate over a network

Bus Topology

A bus network is a network topology in which nodes are directly connected to a common linear (or branched) half-duplex link called a bus

Ring Topology

A ring network is a network topology in which each node connects to exactly two other nodes

Network Token

A token ring network is a local area network (LAN) in which all computers are connected in a ring or star topology 

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.

Protocol

a set of guidelines for implementing networking communications between computers

Peer-Peer Architecture

Peer-to-peer architecture is a commonly used computer networking architecture in which each workstation, or node, has the same capabilities and responsibilities

Client-Server Architecture

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

Hubs

the effective center of an activity, region, or network