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Glossary
Backbone
The backbone is the main line of wire that connects networks to one another.
Bridge
A bridge connects one Local Area Network (LAN) to another. While it can determine to which LAN a packet should be sent, it does not examine or analyze the packet.
Browser
Software used to search and consult Internet sites.
Cabling
Several types of cable are used to connect computers on a network. Coaxial cables and twisted pair cables are both composed of copper; the cable television industry primarily uses coaxial cables while the telephone industry relies upon twisted pair. Fiber optic cables can carry more information than copper wires can, and transmit data as pulses of light.
Gateway
A gateway is the point at which the network connects to another network. A gateway can be composed of software, hardware or a mixture of the two.
Hub
A hub connects segments of a Local Area Network (LAN) and directs packets to their correct location.
Modems
A modem is a hardware peripheral used to connect a computer to a network through a telephone
Network Infrastructure
Network infrastructure is the architecture and connections that make up the network. This includes the physical hardware used to transmit data electronically, such as routers, switches, gateways, bridges, and hubs.
Routers
A router is located at the gateway where it directs the flow and determines the route of packets as they travel from one network to another network(s). A router can be either a hardware device or a software application.
Switches
A switch directs the flow and determines the route of packets as they travel from one segment of a Local Area Network (LAN) to another on that same LAN.