RFEssential Networking Terminology
networking
osi model
tcp/ip
protocol
ethernet
Advertisement
This page describes essential networking terms, covering concepts from OSI and TCP/IP models to specific protocols and hardware components.
Networking Terms
| Term | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| OSI | Open System Interconnection. A conceptual model that standardizes the communication functions of a telecommunication or computing system without regard to its underlying internal structure and technology. | |
| TCPIP | Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A suite of communication protocols used to interconnect network devices on the internet. | |
| ARP | Address Resolution Protocol. Maps IP addresses to Ethernet (MAC) addresses. Used to find the MAC address associated with a given IP address on a local network. | |
| RARP | Reverse Address Resolution Protocol. Maps Ethernet (MAC) addresses to IP addresses. (Note: largely superseded by BOOTP and DHCP). | |
| Router | A networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks. Routers examine the destination IP address within the IP header of a packet to determine the optimal path for delivery. | |
| Hub | Connects multiple Ethernet segments, acting as a central connection point. (Note: largely replaced by switches due to inefficiency). | |
| Switch | Similar to a router but operates with more intelligence at the data link layer (Layer 2). A switch forwards Ethernet packets to appropriate sub-networks based on MAC addresses. | |
| Ethernet | A common networking technology for local area networks (LANs). It specifies cabling and signaling for the physical layer and data link layer. Commonly refers to Ethernet cables and related hardware. | |
| Gateway | A node (router) in a computer network that serves as an access point to another network. Connects two networks with different protocols. | |
| MAC | Medium Access Control. A sublayer of the data link layer (Layer 2) in the OSI model. Handles segmentation, assembly, flow control, and error control (using ARQ protocols). | |
| PHY | Physical Layer. Layer 1 of the OSI model. Deals with the physical aspects of the network, including modulation, syntax conversion, Forward Error Correction (FEC), and scrambling. | |
| IP address | A logical address used to uniquely identify a device on an IP network (Internet or intranet). Can be either 32-bit (IPv4) or 128-bit (IPv6). | |
| Ethernet address | The physical address (MAC address) used to identify a device connected to an Ethernet network. It is a 48-bit address. | |
| LAN | Local Area Network. A network that connects computers and devices within a limited area, such as a home, school, or office building. | |
| WAN | Wide Area Network. A network that covers a broad area, such as a city, country, or the world. | |
| Internet | A global network of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) to serve billions of users worldwide. | |
| IoT | Internet of Things. A network of physical objects (“things”) embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the Internet. | |
| M2M | Machine to Machine communication. Direct communication between devices using any type of network. |
