10Base2 - Ethernet specification for thin coaxial cable, transmits signals at 10 Mbps (megabits per second) with a distance limit of 185 meters per segment.

10Base5 - Ethernet specification for thick coaxial cable, transmits signals at 10 Mbps (megabits per second) with a distance limit of 500 meters per segment.

10BaseF - Ethernet specification for fiber optic cable, transmits signals at 10 Mbps (megabits per second) with a distance limit of 1000 meters per segment.

10BaseT - Ethernet specification for unshielded twisted pair cable (category 3, 4, or 5), transmits signals at 10 Mbps (megabits per second) with a distance limit of 100 meters per segment.

Backbone - A cable to which multiple nodes or workstations are attached.

Cable - Transmission medium of copper wire or optical fiber wrapped in a protective cover.

Coaxial cable - Cable consisting of a single copper conductor in the center surrounded by a plastic layer for insulation and a braided metal outer shield.

E-mail - Electronic mail. Messages sent through a computer network; they may also include graphics and files.

Ethernet - The world's most popular networking system. Designed to run all popular network protocols, Ethernet is used on over 40 million computers worldwide. With a transfer speed of 10 million bits per second. Ethernet is the least expensive high speed LAN alternative.

FTP - File Transfer Protocol. The Internet protocol (and program) used to transfer files between hosts.

Fast ethernet - A new Ethernet standard that supports 100 Mbps using category 5 twisted pair or fiber optic cable.

Fiber optic cable - A cable, consisting of a center glass core surrounded by layers of plastic, that transmits data using light rather than electricity. It has the ability to carry more information over much longer distances.

File server - A computer which contains files that can be used by everyone connected to the network.

Hub - A hardware device that contains multiple independent but connected modules of network and internetwork equipment. Hubs can be active (where they repeat signals sent through them) or passive (where they do not repeat but merely split signals sent through them).

Internet - A global network of networks used to exchange information using the TCP/IP protocol. It allows forelectronic mail and the accessing and retrieval of information from remote sources.

LAN - Local Area Network. A network connecting computers in a relatively small area such as a building.

mbps - MegaBits per Second. A unit showing the speed of a network.

Network interface card (NIC) - A board that provides network communication capabilities to and from a computer.

Network operating system (NOS) - Operating system which runs on the file server designed to pass information and communicate between more than one computer. Examples include AppleShare, Novell NetWare, and Windows NT Server.

Novell - The company which makes Netware, the most commonly used network server software for IBM computers.

Operating system - the software of a computer which controls the execution of programs.

Peripheral - A device attached to a computer, I. E. printer, modem, CD-ROM etc.

Port - A connection point for a cable.

RJ-45 - Standard connectors used for unshielded twisted-pair cable.

Repeater - A device used in a network to strengthen a signal as it is passed along the network cable.

Router - A device which connects two networks and permits packets of information to move between networks only if necessary .

Server - A computer providing a service to network users.

Speed of Data Transfer - The rate at which information travels through a network, usually measured in megabits per second.

Terminator - A device that provides electrical resistance at the end of a transmission line. Its function is to absorb signals on the line, thereby keeping them from bouncing back and being received again by the network.

Topology - Physical topology of a network refers to the configuration of cables, computers, and other peripherals. main types of physical topology are: linear bus (backbone), star, star-wired ring, and hybrid. Logical topology is the method used to pass the information betweenworkstations. Examples are: Ethernet, AppleTalk, Token Ring, and TCP/IP.

Twisted pair - Network cabling that consists of four pairs of wires that are manufactured with the wires twisted to certain specifications. Available in shielded and unshielded versions.

WWW - World Wide Web is comprised of millions of documents, stored on computers on the Internet. The documents are all linked together and make up most of the information available on the Internet.

WAN - Wide Area Network. A communications network which connects together a number of local networks.

Workstation - A computer connected to a network which is used by a person to run application programs.