|
ADSL
|
Asymetric Digital Subscriber Line. This is an upgrade to a standard phone line which allows high speed data transfer. ADSL is optimised for downloading from the internet. ADSL uses ATM to carry the data.
|
|
ATM | Asynchronous Transfer Mode.
The ATM Forum. ATM is a high speed switched transport for data which can reach speeds of 10GB/s. |
|
Backbone | The core of a network which connects the parts together, rather like a human backbone
|
|
DNS |
The Domain Name System, used to convert web site named into numeric addresses.
|
|
Ethernet | A local area network technology, developed originally by Xerox for data transmission. Operates at 10MB/s or 100MB/s |
|
Optical Fibre
|
A thin strand of ultra pure glass used to carry pulses of light.
Corning Fibres
|
|
Firewall |
A computer designed to filter out unwanted data |
|
ftp:// | File Transfer Protocol. Used for file downloads on the Internet. |
|
GHz, GigaHertz |
1 GHz = 1000 million Hertz |
|
GB/s, GigaBits per second |
1 GB/s = 1000 million Bits per second. 1 Byte = 8 bits. |
|
Gigabit Ethernet |
Ethernet running at 1000MB/s. Used for server connections & high speed networks. |
|
Hub | A simple network device to link computers together. |
|
html |
Hyper Text Mark-up Language, used to write pages for the World Wide Web info. |
|
http:// |
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol, used to transfer World Wide Web info. |
|
Internet
|
A global computer network, see World Wide Web
|
|
ISP
|
Internet Service Provider. An organisation providing internet access.
|
|
IP address
|
Internet Protocol Address, a number made up of four groups on numbers, used to identify every computer on the internet uniquely. (Eg. 172.16.4.21)
|
|
IPv4
|
Internet Protocol, version 4. The current version of ip in use.
|
|
IPv6
|
Internet Protocol, version 6. The next version of ip, starting to be introduced.
See www.ipv6.org for more information.
|
|
IPX
|
Internet Packet eXchange. A local area network protocol developed by Novell.
|
|
Kilostream | Leased line running at 64 or 128Kb/s. Usually leased from BT. |
|
LAN | Local Area Network |
|
Leased Line | A dedicated data line, paid for annually and charged by time not useage. |
|
Linux
|
An open-source, Unix derived operating System. www.linux.org
|
|
Macintosh, Apple Mac, Mac
|
Personal Computer manufactured by Apple Computers.
|
|
MB/s
|
An expression of the rate of transfer of data. 1 MB/s = 1million Bits per second. |
|
MHz, MegaHertz |
An expression of frequency. 1 MHz = 1 million Hertz (Cycles per second) |
|
Mutual Recursion
|
see "Recursion, Mutual" |
|
NetWare |
A network server operating system manufactured by
Novell. |
|
NDS |
Novell Directory Services |
|
NT4 |
A server operating system manufactured by
Micro$oft |
|
Operating System | The software run by a computer to allow it to perform work. e.g.Windows, Linux (UNIX) or MacOS |
|
PC, pc
|
IBM compatible Personal Computer using Intel compatible microprocessors. |
|
Protocol |
A set of rules defining the exchange of data. |
|
Router |
A machine used in woodworking! OR.... |
|
Router |
A network device used to direct traffic between two networks. |
|
Recursion, Mutual |
see "Mutual Recursion" |
|
RJ45 Plug/Socket
|
The type of plug and socket used in modern network cabling. Pictures |
|
SDH | Synchronous Digital Hierachy, a high speed data and voice network transport. |
|
SDSL
|
Symetric Digital Subscriber Line. This is a variation of ADSL which has equal bandwidth upstream and downstream. It is commonly used for providing leased line circuits over copper pairs.
|
|
Server | A computer optimised to deliver a service (eg. e-mail, file sharing, web page delivery. |
|
Spread Spectrum |
A licence free radio technology operating at 2.4GHz. |
|
Switch | An intellegent network device to link computers together. |
|
TCP/IP
|
Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol. The standard used for data transmission on the Internet. |
|
TCP
|
Transmission Control Protocol. Part of the TCP/IP protocol suite. TCP provides a "reliable" delivery service, meaning that packets are acknowleged on delivery |
|
Token Ring
|
A local area network transmission medium using token passing to control the flow of data round the network. |
|
UDP
|
User Datagram Protocol. Part of the TCP/IP protocol suite. UDP provides a best efforts delivery, for a guaranteed service, TCP is employed |
|
URL
|
Uniform Resource Locator, usually a web address e.g. http://www.bbc.co.uk/index.html, see http:// |
|
WAN | Wide Area Network |
|
Web Browser
|
A program for connecting to information on the World Wide Web. The most popular Browser programs are Netscape Communicator, Mozilla and Internet Explorer.
|
www
|
The World Wide Web. A part of the internet intended to provide easy access to information using a web browser.
Origins of the world wide web. |
|
ZZZzzz... | Time to go to sleep if you have just read all of this..... |
