Technical Quick Reference:

 Words Used In Computing:

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  • Application Programming Interface (API): Software designed to make a computer's facilities accessible to an application, all operating systems and network operating systems have APIs.
  • APPN: Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking, an SNA protocol that allows network nodes to interact without a host computer.
  • ATM: Asynchronous Transfer Mode, a specification from the ISDN standards for cell relay services providing high-bandwidth networking over LANs and WANs.
  • ATM: Asynchronous Transfer Mode, a specification from the ISDN standards for cell relay services providing high-bandwith networking over LANs and WANs.
  • Authentication: Provides verification of user identity and tunnel end points.
  • Authorization: Enables user-by-user policies for access and viability of network resources.
  • Backbone: Generic term for connectivity between subnetworks across the enterprise, the backbone acts as a communications link.
  • Backbone: The major supporting structure of a computer network through which the majority of network traffic passes.
  • Bandwidth On Demand: Ability to add and drop B channels based on transmission of threshold data levels; also called dynamic bandwidth allocation.
  • Bandwidth: The amount of network traffic that can travel along the network path at any given time.
  • Bandwidth: The amount of network traffic that can travel along the network path at any given time.
  • Baseband: Digital input applied directly to the transmission media without a modulating device.
  • Bridge: Bridges are used to connect networks with dissimilar protocols and operate at the data-link level of the OSI model. When two LANs are successfully bridged together, they effectively become one LAN.
  • Broadband: A way of conveying information around the LAN that puts the signals directly on the cable with no modulation.
  • Channel Bank: A type of multiplexer.
  • CHAP: Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol, a secure procedure for connecting to a system.
  • Dedicated line/digital leased line: A dedicated communications link between two sites priced by distance and capacity (or bandwidth) that is generally purchased from a telephone company.
  • DES: Data Encryption Standard, a widely used method of data encryption using a secret key.
  • DES: Data Encryption Standard, a widely used method of data encryption using a secret key.
  • DNIS/ANIS: Dialed Number Identification Service/Area Number Identification Service, a telephone service that identifies phone numbers of calls received.
  • DSL: Digital Subscriber Line, a constant, all-digital connection between local phone companies and PCs.
  • DSP: Digital Signal Processor, a computer chip that improves the accuracy and reliability of digital communications.
  • DSU/CSU: Connects an external digital circuit to a digital circuit on the customer's premises -- the DSU converts the data into the correct format; the CSU terminates the line, conditions the signal and helps in the remote testing of the line.
  • DSU/CSU: Data Service Unit/Channel Service Unit, a device that connects a digital channel to a customer's premises.
  • DSU: Digital Service Unit, it takes the place of a modem in digital leased-line communication.
  • Encryption: Ensures data privacy by scrambling data in transit.
  • FDDI: Fiber Distributed Data Interface, an ANSI standard for the use of fiber optics to provide network traffic speeds of 100 Mbps, incorporates token passing and packaged data.
  • Firewall: A combination of specifically configured network hardware and software products that limits access to the network by unauthorized individuals from outside the firewall.
  • Frame Relay: A packet-switching wide-area technology for interconnecting LANs at high speeds, it defines the interface between user equipment and the WAN.
  • Frame: A group of bits sent over a link that contains such control information as address and error detection; also called a packet.
  • FTP: File Transfer Protocol, the standard for conducting file transfers on the Web.
  • Gateway: An access point between networks -- set of security measures between networks is also known as a gateway.
  • Hub: The center of a star topology network, it is, in essence, a multiport repeater.
  • Internet telephony server: A computer that manages and directs voice, data, fax and e-mail calls flowing through a computer telephony system.
  • IPSEC: SECure IP, a standard for protecting the privacy and integrity of IP packets.
  • IPSEC: Secure IP, a standard for protecting the privacy and integrity of IP packets.
  • IPX: Internetwork Packet Exchange, a Novell NetWare LAN-communication protocol that allows the exchange of data between networks.
  • ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network, a set of standards for digital transmission over ordinary copper telephone wire and other media.
  • ISP: Internet Service Provider, a company that provides individuals and companies access to the Internet and other related services.
  • ITU-T: International Telecommunication Union -- Telecommunication Standardization Sector, the primary body for fostering cooperative standards for telecommunications equipment and systems.
  • L2TP: Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol.
  • MAC: Media Access Control, a generic term for how workstations gain access to transmission media.
  • MIB: Management Information Base, the database of the objects managed by the network.
  • MIME: Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension, an extension of the original Internet e-mail that allows the exchange of different types of data files over the Internet.
  • MPPE: Microsoft Point-to-Point Encryption.
  • MSAU: Multistation Access Unit, a Token Ring device that can connect up to eight devices with its ring-in, ring-out ports.
  • Multiplexer: A hardware circuit for selecting a single output from multiple inputs.
  • NetBEUI: NetBios Extended User Interface, a program that lets computers communicate within a LAN.
  • NSP: Network Service Provider.
  • ODBC: Open DataBase Connectivity, an open application programming interface for accessing a database.
  • PBX: Private Branch eXchange, an automatic telephone-switching system that enables users within an organization to place calls to each other without going through the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
  • POP: Point Of Presence, the location of an access point to the Internet.
  • PPP: Point-to-Point Protocol, a method of attaching a remote PC through a telecommunications link and making it look like it is part of the network.
  • PPP: Point-to-Point Protocol, a method of attaching a remote PC through a telecommunications link and making it look like it is part of the network.
  • PPP: Point-to-Point Protocol, a method of attaching a remote PC through a telecommunications link and making it look like it is part of the network.
  • PPTP: Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol, a protocol that allows corporations to extend their own networks through private tunnels over the Internet.
  • PPTP: Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol, a protocol that allows corporations to extend their own networks through private tunnels over the internet.
  • PRI: Primary Rate Interface, a method of supplying ISDN service, typically used by large companies.
  • PSTN: Public Switched Telecommunications Network, the world's collective interconnected voice-oriented public telephone network.
  • RADIUS: Remote Authorization Dial-in User Service, a client/server protocol that enables remote access servers to communicate with a central server to authenticate dial-in users and authorize their access to the requested system or service.
  • RADIUS: Remote Authorization Dial-In User Service, a client/server protocol that enables remote access servers to communicate with a central server to authenticate dial-in users and authorize their access to the requested system or service.
  • RAS: Remote Access Server, a computer set up to handle users seeking access to the network remotely.
  • Repeater: A device that repeats a signal from one cable to the next, thereby increasing the reach of a LAN connection.
  • Ring: A common topology in which each workstation is connected to two others on each side; all data is passed from node to node.
  • Router: A device that connects two or more networks and manages the traffic between them.
  • Router: An interface between two networks that delivers a message via the most appropriate path.
  • Segment: An electrically continuous piece of a network; segments can be joined together using repeaters (hubs), bridges or switches.
  • SMDS: Switched Multimegabit Data Service, a public packet-switched service aimed at enterprises over the WAN.
  • SMDS: Switched Multimegabit Data Service, a public packet-switched service aimed at enterprises over the WAN.
  • SMTP: Simple Mail Transport Protocol, a TCP/IP protocol used in sending and receiving e-mail.
  • SNMP: Simple Network Management Protocol, a widely used network-monitoring and control protocol.
  • SNMP: Simple Network Management Protocol, a widely used network-monitoring and control protocol.
  • SQL: Structured Query Language, a standard interface programming language for getting information from and updating databases.
  • Star: A network topology where each node is connected to a central hub; the hub establishes, maintains and terminates all connections between the nodes.
  • T1: A telecommunications link with a bandwidth of 1.54 Mbps.
  • T3: A telecommunications link with about 30 times the bandwidth of a T1 (45 Mbps).
  • TCP/IP: The standard networking protocol used for transporting information over the Internet. It provides a unique addressing scheme and reliable transport for network communications.
  • TCP: Transmission Control Protocol, a protocol used with IP to send data in the form of messaging units between computers over the Internet.
  • Telenet: A terminal connectivity and emulation product used mostly on UNIX platforms.
  • Token: Unique information in a packet that tells a node to transmit data.
  • Unified messaging: A popular CTI application that lets users receive e-mail, phone calls, voice mail, faxes and other data on their computers.
  • VFN: Virtual Fax Network.
  • VLL: Virtual Leased Line.
  • VLL: Virtual Leased Line.
  • VoIP: Voice over Internet Protocol.
  • VPN: Virtual Private Network.
  • VPOP: Virtual Point Of Presence.
  • VTP: Virtual Tunneling Protocol