Jargon Buster A to D |E to P | Q to S | T to Z

Encryption

Encoding data transmitted in a network.

Ethernet

A networking protocol that specifies how data is placed on and retrieved from a common transmission medium.

Finger

A program that tells you the name associated with an e-mail address.

Firewall

A set of related programs located at a network gateway server that protects the resources of a network from users from other networks.

Firmware

The programming code that runs a networking device.

Fragmentation

Breaking a packet into smaller units when transmitting over a network medium that cannot support the original size of the packet

FTP

File Transfer Protocol - A protocol used to transfer files over a TCP/IP network.

Full Duplex

The ability of a networking device to receive and transmit data simultaneously.

Gateway

A device that interconnects networks with different, incompatible communications protocols.

Half Duplex

Data transmission that can occur in two directions over a single line, but only one direction at a time.

Hardware

The physical aspect of computers, telecommunications, and other information technology devices.

NNTP

Network News Transfer Protocol - The protocol used to connect to Usenet groups on the Internet.

Packet

A unit of data sent over a network

Ping

Packet Internet Groper - An Internet utility used to determine whether a particular IP address is online.

POP3

Post Office Protocol 3 - A standard mail server commonly used on the Internet.

Port

The connection point on a computer or networking device used for plugging in cables or adapters.