Terminology
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added to bus topologies; for example, a hub can turn an Ethernet
network into a star topology to improve troubleshooting.
IP Address
IP stands for Internet Protocol. An IP address consists of a series
of four numbers separated by periods, that identifies an single,
unique Internet computer host. Example: 192.34.45.8.
ISP (Internet Service Provider)
An ISP is a business that provides connectivity to the Internet
for individuals and other businesses or organizations.
LAN
A communications network that serves users within a confined
geographical area. It is made up of servers, workstations,
a network operating system and a communications link. Servers
are high-speed machines that hold programs and data shared by
network users. The workstations (clients) are the users' personal
computers, which perform stand-alone processing and access
the network servers as required.
Diskless and floppy-only workstations are sometimes used, which
retrieve all software and data from the server. Increasingly, "thin
client" network computers (NCs) and Windows terminals are also
used. A printer can be attached locally to a workstation or to a
server and be shared by network users. Small LANs can allow
certain workstations to function as a server, allowing users access
to data on another user's machine. These peer-to-peer networks
are often simpler to install and manage, but dedicated servers
provide better performance and can handle higher transaction
volume. Multiple servers are used in large networks.
MAC Address MAC (Media Access Control Address)
A MAC address is the hardware address of a device connected
to a network.
