- local area network
-
A collection of computers called nodes, which can in some manner
communicate in what appears to be a peer-to-peer fashion without
apparent external support.
- direct addressing
-
Each computer on a local area network has some identification,
that is used in the peer-to-peer communication.
- catenet
-
A collection of local area networks, connected together in some
fashion so that end-to-end communication can be done between
computers on different local area networks.
- repeater
-
Something that makes two or more local area networks into a single
local area network, usually by just "repeating" electrical signals
from one onto the other.
- bridge
-
Something that makes two or more local area networks into a single
local area network, usually by just copying "packets" from one
onto the other, usually "learning" addresses on the fly, thus making
it appear that addressing is direct.
- router
-
A particular computer that collects and disseminates routing
information. Usually it is a node on several local area networks,
and connects them together by forwarding traffic from one to the
other.
- gateway
-
A particular computer that translates information while forwarding
it. Often a router that does filtering, could also operate by doing
protocol translation at any level.
- an internetwork
-
A catenet in which all agree to use a particular "suite" of
protocols.
- The Internet
-
A particular (and particularly large) catenet spanning the globe,
which uses the "TCP/IP suite" of protocols.
- forwarding
-
Deciding whether data traffic should be sent to another computer.
- resolving
-
Deciding when traffic is to be forwarded, which direct address on
the current local area network to use.
- routing
-
Determining how to get data traffic from one computer to another
over a catenet.
- protocol
-
A particular way of life, appropriate to some part of a
network. Involves languages, but also the way of speaking
those languages.
- service
-
Something that one or more computers does for another.
- provider
-
Something that provides a particular service,
usually through a query-reply mechanism based on common
protocols.
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