Glossary

Converged Network - A single network with the capacity to carry a combination of data, voice and video traffic.

End Devices - A device that a person can use for communication purposes – for example - a desktop computer,  cell phone, PDA, laptop etc

Firewall - A firewall prevents unauthorised access to or from a private network.  A firewall can be installed either via hardware or software or a combination of both and it is designed to prevent and filter unauthorised access via the internet to a private network.

Hub - A hub is a multi-port repeater. Whatever signal is received at one interface of the hub is repeated out all the other interfaces of the hub. Hubs vary in terms of the number of ports and management issues. For security, control, and performance reasons, most organizations have replaced hubs with switches.

IP Address - An identification number for a computer or device on a TCP/IP network. Networks which use the TCP/IP protocol determine the destination of a message based on the IP address.

LAN - A local area network, where computers are geographically close together (in the same office, building).

Network - A group of two or more computer systems linked together in order to share information and resources.  There are two main categories of computer networks: LAN and WAN

Peer –to-Peer Network - In a peer-to-peer network, all workstations share their resources, including internal hard drives and printers, with all other workstations on the LAN. Each computer must share its resources with the other computers on the LAN, which can slow the response time to the local user, as the resources may be busy supporting external users.

QoS - Quality of Service is the ability to control the characteristics of ongoing communication services.  Service providers use these control values to offer improved and possibly contract levels of service. QoS is an end-to-end responsibility that involves clients, switches, routers, and servers

Router - A router is an internetworking device commonly used to connect different network types together. A router is custom configured for the various networks that an organization supports (LANs and WANs). Routers use software addressing systems, such as IP addressing, to logically address data, allowing a packet of data to be addressed and carried through several different layer 2 networks.

Routing Protocols - The routing protocol is the code configured and running on routers.

RIP - Routing Information Protocol

OSPF - Open Shortest Path First

IGRP - Interior Gateway Routing Protocol

EIGRP - Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol

BGP - Border Gateway Protocol

IS-IS - Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System

Subnetting - Subnetting divides a network into several subnetworks (or subnets). All systems (for example, workstations, printers, server, and routers) that exist in the subnet have common network and subnet values, but each must have a unique interface portion of their logical or IP address.

Switching - A technology that offers a fast and easy way to physically isolate segment network traffic for performance and security reasons. Switches improve security by sending traffic only to the addressed device.  Many organizations use switches to replace hubs to connect and now use switches as their intermediate device of choice replacing almost all hubs and most routers.

Video over IP - New video-compression capabilities like MPEG4 claim to squeeze current            commercial, high quality video into DSL friendly range of about 1 Mbps.  Combining this with 10Gbps Ethernet opens the ability for each user to have access to a huge catalogue of on-demand video offerings.  The focus of converging voice and data will now add video to the mix.  The next generation network providers will function as an information utility company, which will make the shift from telecommunications to combined infrastructure, service providing and content offering organizations.

VoIP - Individuals inside and outside organizations can contact their friends, coworkers, and customers using VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) capabilities everywhere that an IP network reaches.  Current network capabilities may be sufficient to use VOIP if enough bandwidth is available to carry the voice traffic.  Companies are now looking at a VoIP network to combine both the voice network (traditional telephone) and data network into one common network for all communication.

VPN - A VPN is a form of communication over networks that are public in ownership, but emulate a private network in terms of security.

WAN - A wide area network which connects LANs to each other and offers the means to provide services and resources in multiple locations. Most organizations rely on service providers for their WANs.

WiMAX - WiMAx is the new wireless broadband with a range of up to 80km, with a bandwith of up to 75bps.  It is the successor to Wi-Fi.

Wireless Networks -There are three basic methods to create a wireless network – infrared, radio or laser.  Infrared for local wire replacements over small distances (mouse to PC).  Laser technology offers much greater capability for distance and speed. In networking, lasers typically bridge two network segments between two separate buildings.  Radio solutions are different for LAN and WAN use. WANs use satellite and microwave portions of the radio frequency spectrum. LANs use radios that operate in the free use frequency ranges of the 2.4 GHz ISM.