Hello Reader,
If you have an interest in network programming, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the following key terminology associated with computer networks.
Basic Networking Terms
- IP
Address: A unique identifier assigned to a device on a network.
- Subnet
Mask: Defines the network and host portions of an IP address.
- MAC
Address: A unique identifier assigned to a device's network interface
card (NIC).
- Gateway:
A device that connects different networks and facilitates communication.
- DNS
(Domain Name System): Translates domain names to IP addresses.
- DHCP
(Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol): Assigns IP addresses
automatically to devices on a network.
- LAN
(Local Area Network): A network that spans a small geographical area.
- WAN
(Wide Area Network): A network that spans a large geographical area.
- VPN
(Virtual Private Network): Creates a secure connection over a public
network.
- SSID
(Service Set Identifier): The name of a wireless network.
Protocols
- TCP
(Transmission Control Protocol): Ensures reliable data transmission.
- UDP
(User Datagram Protocol): A connectionless protocol for faster, less
reliable data transmission.
- HTTP
(Hypertext Transfer Protocol): Used for transferring web pages.
- HTTPS
(HTTP Secure): A secure version of HTTP.
- FTP
(File Transfer Protocol): For transferring files over a network.
- SMTP
(Simple Mail Transfer Protocol): Used for sending emails.
- IMAP
(Internet Message Access Protocol): Accesses emails on a server.
- SNMP
(Simple Network Management Protocol): Manages network devices.
- ICMP
(Internet Control Message Protocol): Used for error reporting and
diagnostics (e.g., ping).
- ARP
(Address Resolution Protocol): Maps IP addresses to MAC addresses.
Network Devices
- Router:
Directs data packets between networks.
- Switch:
Connects devices within a LAN.
- Hub:
A basic device to connect multiple devices in a network.
- Modem:
Connects a network to the internet.
- Firewall:
Monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic.
- Access
Point (AP): Provides wireless connectivity in a network.
- Bridge:
Connects two LANs.
Security Terms
- Firewall:
A device or software to block unauthorized access.
- Proxy:
Acts as an intermediary between clients and servers.
- Encryption:
Secures data by converting it into an unreadable format.
- Authentication:
Verifies the identity of a user or device.
- VPN
Tunnel: An encrypted connection within a VPN.
- Intrusion
Detection System (IDS): Detects unauthorized access attempts.
- Intrusion
Prevention System (IPS): Prevents unauthorized access.
Network Types
- MAN
(Metropolitan Area Network): Covers a city or a large campus.
- SAN
(Storage Area Network): Dedicated for data storage.
- PAN
(Personal Area Network): Covers personal devices (e.g., Bluetooth).
- CAN
(Campus Area Network): Covers a campus or organization.
- IoT
(Internet of Things): A network of interconnected smart devices.
Advanced Concepts
- NAT
(Network Address Translation): Maps private IPs to public IPs.
- QoS
(Quality of Service): Prioritizes network traffic.
- BGP
(Border Gateway Protocol): Manages routing between autonomous systems.
- MPLS
(Multiprotocol Label Switching): Directs data using labels for
efficient routing.
- Load
Balancer: Distributes network traffic across multiple servers.
- VLAN
(Virtual LAN): Segments a network into logical parts.
- Cloud
Networking: Using cloud-based infrastructure for networking.
Measurement and Monitoring
- Bandwidth:
Maximum data transfer capacity of a network.
- Latency:
Time delay in data transmission.
- Throughput:
Actual data transfer rate.
- Packet:
A small unit of data transmitted over a network.
- Ping:
Tests network connectivity and measures latency.
- Traceroute:
Tracks the path data takes to reach its destination.
