Network Dictionary

Introduction

Networks are currently one of the fastest growing and most important developments in the computer industry. Not only are more and more PCs becoming parts of networks, but networked PCs are being incorporated into larger enterprise-wide applications so that everyone in a company can access and share data.

With the expanding technology of networking comes the terminology to describe it. This Dictionary of Networking provides definitions for all the terms you will encounter when dealing with networks of any type.

Who Should Use This Book?

This book is designed to meet the needs of people who work with networks, communications, and mobile computing systems. Whether you are networking previously unconnected computers or downsizing from a mainframe, this book is for you. And if you are studying for one of the network certification exams, you will find this book to be an essential reference.

Network users of all levels are barraged with an almost bewildering array of terms, abbreviations,and acronyms in books, magazine and newspaper articles, advertisements, and their day-to-day conversations. Jargon is a useful shorthand, but it can easily become incomprehensible and unmanageable, even to the most seasoned network administrator.

What You’ll Find in This Book

This informal, conversational guide explains more than 3000 networking concepts, terms, protocols, chips, standards, versions, product names, commands, abbreviations, acronyms, slang, and more--with detailed illustrations to clarify hardware, cabling, and network protocols issues.

Along with clear explanations of the jargon and slang associated with networking, you’ll find definitions of more than 3,000 networking technical terms, abbreviations, and acronyms. The list that follows gives you a brief overview of the topics that this book covers:



• Acronyms and abbreviations
• Active Directory
• ActiveX
• Application software
• Cables, cards, and connectors
• Certification schemes
• Chips, memory, and adapters
• Communications
  

About the Companion CD

The companion CD contains an electronic version of this entire book. You can use it to find entries quickly and follow cross-references without a great deal of page flipping.