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| Adaptability | A network has adaptability if it is designed with an eye toward future technologies, and it includes no element that would limit implementation of new technologies as they become available. |
| ARP - Address Resolution Protocol | Internet protocol used to map an IP address to a MAC address. Defined in RFC 826. |
| Backbone | The part of a network that acts as the primary path for traffic that is most often sourced from, and destined for, other networks. |
| Bandwidth | The difference between the highest and lowest frequencies available for network signals. The term is also used to describe the rated throughput capacity of a given network medium or protocol. |
| Broadcast domains | The set of all devices that will receive broadcast frames originating from any device within the set. Broadcast domains are typically bounded by routers because routers do not forward broadcast frames. |
| Broadcasts | Data packet that will be sent to all nodes on a network. Broadcasts are identified by a broadcast address. |
| Cable Plant | |
| Catchment areas | Zone that falls within area that can be served by an internetworking device such as a hub. |
| Coaxial Cable | Cable consisting of a hollow outer cylindrical conductor that surrounds a single inner wire conductor. |
| Collsion detection | See CSMA/CA |
| Collsion domains | In Ethernet, the network area within which frames that have collided are propagated. Repeaters and hubs propagate collisions; LAN switches, bridges and routers do not. |
| Contention | Access method in which network devices compete for permission to access the physical medium. |
| CSMA/CA | Media-access mechanism wherein devices ready to transmit data first check the channel for a carrier. |
| Enterprise servers | Servers provide, file sharing, printing, communications, and application services. An Enterprise server supports all users, and is placed in the MDF. |
| Ethernet --
802.3 -- |
Baseband LAN specification invented by Xerox Corporation
and developed jointly by Xerox, Intel, and Digital Equipment Corporation.
Ethernet networks use CSMA/CD and run over a variety of cable types at
10 Mbps.
An IEEE LAN protocol that specifies an implementation of the physical layer and the MAC sublayer of the data link layer. IEEE 802.3 uses CSMA/CD access at a variety of speeds over a variety of physical media. |
| Ethernet Switch | Network device that filters, forwards, and floods frames based on the destination address of each frame. The switch operates at the data link layer of the OSI model. |
| Extended Star Topology | An extended star topology uses the star topology to be created. It links individual stars together by linking the hubs/switches. |
| Fast Ethernet | Any of a number of 100-Mbps Ethernet specifications. Fast Ethernet offers a speed increase ten times that of the 10BASE-T Ethernet specification, while preserving such qualities as frame format, MAC mechanisms, and MTU. |
| Firewalls | Router or access server, or several routers or access servers, designated as a buffer between any connected public networks and a private network. A firewall router uses access lists and other methods to ensure the security of the private network. |
| HCC (Horizontal Cross Connect) | Wiring closet where the horizontal cabling connects to a patch panel which is connected by backbone cabling to the main distribution facility. |
| IDF (Intermediate distribution facility) | Secondary communications room for a building using a star networking topology. The IDF is dependent on the MDF. |
| MDF (Main distribution facility) | Primary communications room for a building. Central point of a star networking topology where patch panels, hub, and router are located. |
| Media | Plural of medium. The various physical environments through which transmission signals pass. Common network media include twisted-pair, coaxial and fiber-optic cable, and the atmosphere. |
| Microsegmentation | Division of a network into smaller segments, usually with the intention of increasing aggregate bandwidth to network devices. |
| Multicast | Single packets copied by the network and sent to a specific subset of network addresses. These addresses are specified in the destination address field. |
| Multimode fiber | Optical fiber supporting propagation of multiple frequencies of light. |
| Network Layer | Layer 3 of the OSI reference model. This layer provides connectivity and path selection between two end systems. The` network layer is the layer at which routing occurs. |
| Port | 1.) Interface on an internetworking device.
2.) In IP terminology, an upper-layer process that is receiving information from lower layers. 4). A female plug on a patch panel which accepts the same size plug as an RJ-45 jack. |