Jargon The Internet
1000Base-T |
An Ethernet system that supports a data transfer rate of 1000 Mbps (i.e., 1 Gbps) over a twisted-pair cable. |
100Base-T |
An Ethernet system that supports a data transfer rate of 100 Mbps over a twisted-pair cable. |
10Base-T |
An Ethernet system that supports a data transfer rate of 10 Mbps over a twistedpair cable. |
802.11b |
A WLAN specification that supports a maximum data transfer rate of 11 Mbps. |
802.11g |
A WLAN specification that supports a maximum data transfer rate of 54 Mbps and is backwards-compatible with 802.11b. |
ACK |
“Acknowledge”, a type of packet sent in response to data traffic. |
backbone |
A conduit for traffic between networks that typically operates at a very high speed and capacity. |
bandwidth |
A measure of data transmission often used to describe the maximum amount of information that can be sent over a particular medium (such as a cable modem connection) in a particular amount of time (e.g., megabits per second). |
beaming |
A method of wireless transmission (e.g., IR). |
blind carbon copy |
BCC. Used for sending messages to recipients such that the targeted recipients (TO and CC) are unaware of the BCC’d party’s receipt of the email. |
blog |
Short for “web log,” blogs are generally thought of as frequently updated online journals. |
Bluetooth |
A wireless technology typically used in Personal Area Networks (i.e., cell phones, PDAs, headphones, etc.). |
broadband |
Network connection accommodating multiple data streams (implies a highbandwidth capacity). |
bus network |
A network in which all of the nodes are connected to the same cable. |
cable |
A physical medium (copper or optical) for transmission. |
cable modem |
A device for use with cable TV service that allows for simultaneous data networking |
carbon copy |
CC. A method of copying email messages to a third party. |
CC |
See carbon copy. |
ccTLD |
Country Code TLD. Two-character abbreviation for countries’ names used as TLDs. |
chat |
Real-time-communication system for users on networked computers. |
client |
A host or software running on a host that uses a remote service on another computer (a “server”). |
crossover cable |
Type of twisted-pair cable with the send and receive wires crossed. |
datagram |
A unit of transmission in a TCP network. |
DHCP |
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. The “language” spoken by DHCP servers with computers on a network in order to provide the latter IP addresses and other settings. |
dialup modem |
A networking device used to connect a host to a network over phone lines. |
DNS |
Domain Name System. The service that translates names to IP addresses (e.g., www.fas.harvard.edu to 140.247.34.66). |
domain |
A group of related computers that share some logical connection. Also the name of such a group (e.g., harvard.edu). |
DSL |
Digital subscriber line. A means of transmitting network traffic over copper phone lines. |
|
Electronic mail. |
email address |
An address (often of the form username@domain.tld or username@subdomain.domain.tld) that identifies a user’s email inbox on the Internet. |
emoticon |
Short for “emotion icon” (aka a smiley :-). |
Ethernet |
The most commonly used LAN technology, originally developed by Xerox, Ethernet is used for sending data over coaxial or twisted-pair lines. Data is sent to MAC addresses. |
Ethernet address |
See MAC address |
fiber-optic cable |
A thin, flexible cable with an essentially glass core surrounded by a protective coating, fiber-optic cable transmits data using light rather than electricity. |
fragment |
A piece of data. In networking (such as TCP/IP), large chunks of data are often fragmented, transmitted, and reassembled at the receiver’s end. |
frequency |
The number of occurrences in a given time period, often expressed in cycles such as Hertz (Hz) or Megahertz (MHz). |
GET |
HTTP command to retrieve webpages |
header |
Block of information at the beginning of transmitted information containing information such as the originator and recipient. |
hexadecimal |
A numbering system based on 16 digits. The first ten digits are represented by 0 through 9, and the next six are represented by A through F. |
HTTP |
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. The language webservers and web browsers use to communicate. |
hub |
A device that serves as a junction for nodes on a network. It takes an incoming signal from one port and broadcasts it back on all other ports. |
IM |
Instant Messaging. A means by which to conduct a real-time, text-based conversation. |
IMAP |
Internet Message Access Protocol. A language clients and servers use to exchange email from the latter to the former that allows subsequent changes on the client to be mirrored on the server. |
instant message |
See IM. |
internet |
A large network made up of a number of smaller networks. |
Internet |
The global network of networks. |
intranet |
A (typically private) network meant for use within a specific organization or group. |
ISP |
Internet Service Provider. A company that provides users with connections to the Internet. |
LAN |
Local Area Network. A relatively small network usually comprising geographically proximal computers. |
listserv |
A type of mailing list program that allows users to self subscribe to communities of interest. |
MAC address |
Media Access Control address. Unique address of a physical device on a network such as a NIC in a PC. |
NAT |
Network Address Translation. A technology that allows multiple computers to share one IP address. |
netiquette |
Internet etiquette. |
network |
An interconnected system of computers. |
NIC |
Network Interface Card. An expansion card that provides a computer with physical means of being connected to a network. |
P2P |
See peer-to-peer. |
packet |
Fundamental unit of information transmitted on a network. |
patch cable |
Also called a straight-through cable, a type of cable used to interconnect networking devices or other cable. |
peering point |
Points of traffic exchange between ISPs. |
peer-to-peer |
A means of sharing and delivering files among hosts on a network |
POP |
Post Office Protocol. A language clients and servers use to exchange email from the latter to the former that does not allow subsequent changes on the client to be mirrored on the server. |
port |
An interface through which data is sent and/or received. Often used to describe a datajack on a networking device. |
ring network |
A type of network configuration (topology) in which nodes are connected to each other in a closed loop. |
root server |
A name server (DNS server) that directs requests to TLD name servers. |
router |
A device that routes data from one network to another based on the data’s source and/or destination address. |
Rx |
Shorthand for “receive.” |
sequence number |
An identifier for packets to assist in their verification and reassembly on the receiving end. |
server |
A host that runs a service, such as email. |
SFTP |
Secure File Transfer Protocol. A language used by clients and servers to exchange files via encryption. |
SMTP |
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. A language used by clients in servers to deliver email from the former to the latter. |
snail mail |
Regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service. |
spam |
Unsolicited junk email. |
SSH |
Secure Shell. A language used by clients and servers to allow a user on the former to access and control an account on the latter. |
star network |
Network topology in which all nodes are connected through a central point. |
straightthrough cable |
See patch cable. |
subdomain |
A domain-within-a-domain typically representing some logical subdivision of a larger entity. For example, fas.harvard.edu is a subdomain of harvard.edu. |
surf |
A term used synonymously with “browse” to indicate a casual perusal of content on the Internet. |
switch |
Hub-like device. It is “smarter” than a hub as it does not rebroadcast signals to all ports, but rather directs signals to a specific node. |
TCP/IP |
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The “language” that computers on the Internet speak in order to route data among computers. |
TLD |
Top-Level Domain. The “top” of the domain structure, hierarchically speaking. Semantically, the last portion of a domain name (e.g. .edu, .com, .net, .org, .uk). |
topology |
Physical layout of a network. |
TTL |
Time To Live. A sort of half-life measure for packets in a network. Once the TTL has been exceeded, the packet will no longer be transmitted. |
Tx |
Shorthand for “transmit.” |
URL |
Uniform Resource Locator. A unique address for electronic resources (e.g., webpages) available on the Internet, typically of the form protocol://host.domain.tld/path. |
Usenet |
A collection of newsgroups (i.e., bulletin boards or message boards). |
UTP |
Unshielded Twisted Pair. Describes a type of cable often used to connect computers via Ethernet. |
WAN |
Wide Area Network. A relatively large network usually comprising multiple LANs. |
warchalking |
The practice of marking areas with accessible wireless networks. |
wardriving |
The practice of looking (by car) for accessible wireless networks. |
weblog See blog. |
|
WEP |
Wired Equivalent Privacy. A (somewhat easily broken) form of encryption that can be used by computers to encrypt data between them and a wireless access point or router. |
WiFi |
Synonym for wireless 802.11 networks. |
WiMAX |
A wireless technology of increasing popularity, capable of greater distances than 802.11 networks. |
WLAN |
Wireless Local Area Network. A relatively small network usually comprising geographically proximal computers connected wirelessly. |
World Wide Web |
A network of hosts on the Internet that serve content via the HTTP protocol. |
WPA |
WiFi Protected Access. A form of encryption (superior to WEP) that can be used by computers to encrypt data between them and a wireless access point or router. |