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.

email

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.