User`s guide

184
Glossary
network - network protocols
N network
A group of two or more computer systems linked together. There are
many types of computer networks, including:
local-area networks (LANs) : The computers are geographically close
together (that is, in the same building).
wide-area networks (WANs) : The computers are farther apart and are
connected by telephone lines or radio waves.
campus-area networks (CANs): The computers are within a limited
geographic area, such as a campus or military base.
metropolitan-area networks MANs): A data network designed for a town or
city.
home-area networks (HANs): A network contained within a user's home
that connects a person's digital devices.
In addition to these types, the following characteristics are also used to
categorize different types of networks:
topology : The geometric arrangement of a computer system. Common
topologies include a bus, star, and ring. See the Network topology
diagrams in the Quick Reference section of Webopedia.
protocol : The protocol defines a common set of rules and signals that
computers on the network use to communicate. One of the most popular
protocols for LANs is called Ethernet. Another popular LAN protocol for
PCs is the IBM token-ring network.
architecture : Networks can be broadly classified as using either a peer-
to-peer or client/server architecture.
Computers on a network are sometimes called nodes. Computers and
devices that allocate resources for a network are called servers
network protocols
The protocol defines a common set of rules and signals that computers
on the network use to communicate. One of the most popular protocols
for LANs is called
Ethernet. A description of the ARP, DHCP, DNS, FTP,
HTTP, ICMP, and RPC
protocols follows.
ARP: Short for Address Resolution Protocol, a TCP/IP protocol used to
convert an IP address into a physical address (called a DLC address),
such as an Ethernet address.
DHCP: See DHCP