BASIC COMPUTER HARDWARE NETWORKING:

HARDWARE (THE PHYSICAL PARTS OF A COMPUTER):

AGP

The Accelerated Graphics Port Is A High Speed Connection To The Motherboard For Video Cards. Faster Than A Pci Card And Doesnt Use The System Memory.

Bios

The Basic Input/Output System Controls The Computers Basic Operations And Is Responsible For Starting Up The Computer And Hardware.Bit Short For Binary Digit. It Is The Smallest Unit Of Information Handled By A Computer. One Bit Expresses A 1 Or A 0 In A Binary Numeral. Or, Its A True Or False Logical Condition, And Is Represented Physically By An Element Such As A High Or Low Voltage At One Point In A Circuit Or A Small Spot On A Disk Magnetized One Way Or Another. A Single Bit Conveys Little Information A Human Would Consider Meaningful. A Group Of 8 Bits, However, Makes Up A Byte, Which Can Be Used To Represent Many Types Of Information, Such As A Letter Of The Alphabet, A Decimal Digit, Or Other Character.

Bus Speed

Measured In Megahertz (Mhz) And Determines How Fast The Memory And Cpu Run.

Case

The Case Holds, Cools, And Protects The Computer; The Bigger The Better.

Cd-Rom And Cd-Rom Burner (Cd-R/Cd-Rw)

This Device Reads Data, Audio, And Video Files From A Cd-Rom Disc. A Burner Can Also Save And Even Re-Save Data To A Cd-Rom.

Cpu

Central Processing Unit; The Brain Of The Computer; Controls The Other Elements Of The Computer

Disk Drive (A Peripheral Device That Reads And/Or Writes Information On A Disk ):Dvd-Rom (Dvd And Dvd+/-R/Dvd+/-Rw)

It Reads The Same As A Cd-Rom But Is A Super Compressed Format (Mpeg) That Can Store Full-Length Movies.

Floppy Drive

Magnetic Storage Medium. Sealed In A Hard Plastic Shell, The Actual Magnetic Disk Is Flexible Plastic Coated With A Layer Of Magnetic Film. Typical Floppy Disks Hold 1.4 Megabytes Of Data And Measure 3.5 Inches In Diameter. Floppy Disk Drives Connect To The Motherboard Via A Dedicated Cable. Old Floppy Disks Were 5 1/4 In.

Hard Drive

This Stores All Of The Computers Information. A Device (Usually Within The Computer Case) That Reads And Writes Information, Including The Operating System, Program Files, And Data Files.

Keyboard

A Peripheral Used To Input Data By Pressing Keys (Allows The Entry Of Data And Executes Programs).

Megabytes (Mb)

It Is Used To Measure The Amount Of Space On A Hard Drive Or On A Memory Stick. Gigabytes (Gb) Are More Frequently Used Now.

Monitor

A Device Used To Display Information Visually (It Is A High Resolution Tv-Like Tube That Displays The Computers Output).

Motherboard

This Transfers Data Between All Of The Computers Components: The Human Nervous System.

Mouse

A Peripheral Device Used To Point To Items On A Monitor (Allows The Entry Of Data And Executes Programs The Easy Way On Screen And Works Well With Graphics And Icons).

Pci

The Peripheral Component Interconnect Is A High-Speed Connection To Adding Devices To A Computer Including Scsi Cards, Video, Sound, Modems, And Other Pci Devices.

Power Supply

Converts Power From A Source Into Power The Computer Can Use. 300 400 Watt Supply Cases Are Best. Smaller Means More Crashes. Aids In The Cooling Of The Computer.

PrinterA Peripheral Device That Converts Output From A Computer Into A Printed Image

Ram

Random Access Memory Holds Recently Accessed Data From The Computer For The Cpu To Have Quick Access To. It Is Gone Once The Computer Is Shut Off.

Scanner

This Device Allows The Reading Of Images And Text.

Scsi

The Skuzzy Stands For Small Computer Systems Interface. This Interface Is The Fastest Connection To The Hard Drive And Is Usually Associated With The Hard Drive(S).

Routers:

Routers are small physical devices that join multiple networks together. Technically, a router is a Layer 3 gateway device, meaning that it connects two or more networks and that the router operates at the network layer of the OSI model. Home networks typically use a wireless or wired Internet Protocol (IP) router, IP being the most common OSI network layer protocol. An IP router such as a DSL or cable modem broadband router joins the home's local area network (LAN) to the wide-area network (WAN) of the Internet.By maintaining configuration information in a piece of storage called the routing table, wired or wireless routers also have the ability to filter traffic, either incoming or outgoing, based on the IP addresses of senders and receivers. Some routers allow a network administrator to update the routing table from a Web browser interface. Broadband routers combine the functions of a router with those of a network switch and a firewall in a single unit.

Switch A Connecting Device Used On Ethernet Networks. Each Computer On The Local Area Network Is Connected To The Switch With A Dedicated Segment. The Switch Uses The Mac Or Isp Address To Determine Which Segment To Forward Frames To. A Frame Is Only Forwarded To The Destination Rather Than Broadcast To All Computers. This Increases Both The Security And The Efficiency Of The Network. Contrast With A Hub Simply Forwards All Data Through The Network.Usb

The Universal Serial Bus Port Allows For The Connecting Of Many External Devices To The Computer.

Video Card

It Transfers Data From The Computer To The Monitor. 3-D Cards Are Necessary For Games.Nic Network Interface Card; A Board Inserted In A Computer That Provides A Physical Connection To A Network

RJ45:RJ45 is a standard type of connector for network cables. RJ45 connectors are most commonly seen with Ethernet cables and networks. RJ45 connectors feature eight pins to which the wire strands of a cable interface electrically. Standard RJ-45 pinouts define the arrangement of the individual wires needed when attaching connectors to a cable. Several other kinds of connectors closely resemble RJ45 and can be easily confused for each other. The RJ-11 connectors used with telephone cables, for example, are only slightly smaller (narrower) than RJ-45 connectors.Modem A Peripheral Device Used To Connect One Computer To Another Over A Phone Line

COMPUTER NETWORKS (DATA COMMUNICATIONS):

Wide Area Network - A Large Network That Encompasses Parts Of States, Multiple States, Countries, And The World Data Communications - The Transfer Of Digital Or Analog Data Using Digital Or Analog Signals Voice Network - A Network That Transmits Telephone Signals Data Network - A Network That Transmits Computer Data Telecommunications - The Study Of Telephones And The Systems That Transmit Telephone Signals Network Management - The Design, Installation, And Support Of A Network And Its Hardware And Software Personal Area Network A Network Of A Few Meters, Between Wireless Devices Such As Pdas, Laptops, And Similar Devices The Big Picture Of Networks Networks Are Composed Of Many Devices, Including: Workstations (Computers And Telephones) Servers Network Hubs And Switches (Bridges) Routers (Lan-Wan And Wan-Wan) Telephone Switching Gear

Computer Networks - Basic Configurations Computer Terminal/Microcomputer To Mainframe Computer Microcomputer To Local Area Network Microcomputer To Internet Local Area Network To Local Area Network Personal Area Network To Workstation Local Area Network To Metropolitan Area Network Local Area Network To Wide Area Network Sensor To Local Area Network Satellite And Microwave Wireless Telephone And Wired Telephone To Network

Terminal/Microcomputer-To-Mainframe Computer Configurations Predominant Form In 60s And 70s Still Used In Many Types Of Businesses For Data Entry And Data Retrieval Usually Involves A Low-Speed Connection Microcomputer-To-Local Area Network Highly Common Throughout Business And Academic Environments, And Now Even Homes Typically A Medium- To High-Speed Connection Microcomputer Requires A Nic (Network Interface Card) Nic Connects To A Hub-Like Device Microcomputer-To-Internet Configurations Very Popular With Home Users And Some Small Businesses Typically, A Dial-Up Modem Is Used To Connect Users Microcomputer To An Internet Service Provider Newer Technologies Such As Dsl And Cable Modems Are Replacing Modems

Local Area Network-To-Local Area Network Configurations (Continued) Found In Businesses And Schools That Have Two Or More Lans And A Need For Them To Intercommunicate A Bridge-Like Device (Such As A Switch) Is Typically Used To Interconnect Lans Bridge-Like Device Can Filter FramesPersonal Area Network-To-Workstationconfigurations Interconnects Wireless Devices Such As Pdas, Laptops, And Music Playback Devices Used Over A Short Distance Such As A Few Meters

Local Area Network-To-Metropolitan Area Network Configurations Used To Interconnect Companies (Usually Their Local Area Networks) To Networks That Encompass A Metropolitan City High Speed Networks With Redundant Circuits Local Area Network-To-Wide Area Network Configurations One Of The Most Common Ways To Interconnect A User On A Lan Workstation To The Internet (A Wide Area Network) Router Typical Device That Performs Lan To Wan Connections More Complex Devices Than Bridges/Switches Wide Area Network-To-Wide Area Network, Network Configurations High-Speed Routers And Switches Are Used To Connect One Wide Area Network To Another Thousands Of Wide Area Networks Across North America Many Interconnected Via These Routers And Switches Sensor-To-Local Area Network Configurations Not All Local Area Networks Deal With Microcomputer Workstations Often Found In Industrial And Laboratory Environments Assembly Lines And Robotic Controls Depend Heavily On Sensor-Based Local Area Networks

Wireless Telephone Configurations Constantly Expanding Market Across The U.S. And World Second Generation Pcs Services Available In Most Areas And Under Many Types Of Plans Next Generation Services Beginning To Replace Pcs Phones An Additional Basic Configuration Is Telephone To Network Telephone Systems Are Ubiquitous And Can Now Carry More Data Than Voice Common Configuration Telephone Connected To Pots Newer Configuration Telephone To Lan Via Gateway (Voip)

Network Architectures Reference Model That Describes The Layers Of Hardware And Software Necessary To Transmit Data Between Two Points Or For Multiple Devices / Applications To Interoperate Reference Models Are Necessary To Increase The Likelihood That Different Components From Different Manufacturers Will Converse Two Architectures Are Required Learning: The Osi Model, And The Tcp/Ip Protocol Suite

The Open Systems Interconnection (Osi) Model Application Layer - Where The Application Using The Network Resides Common Network Applications Include Remote Login, File Transfer, E-Mail, And Web Page Browsing Presentation Layer - Performs Series Of Miscellaneous Functions Necessary For Presenting The Data Package Properly To The Sender Or ReceiverSession Layer - Responsible For Establishing Sessions Between Users Transport Layer - Provides End-To-End Error-Free Network Connection Makes Sure Data Arrives At Destination Exactly As It Left The Source Network Layer - Responsible For Creating, Maintaining And Ending Network Connections Transfers A Data Packet From Node To Node Within The Network Data Link Layer - Responsible For Taking Data And Transforming It Into A Frame With Header, Control And Address Information, As Well As Error Detection Code Physical Layer - Handles The Transmission Of Bits Over A Communications Channel Includes Voltage Levels, Connectors, Media Choice, Modulation Techniques

The Tcp/Ip Protocol Suite Application Layer - Equivalent To The Osis Presentation And Application Layers Transport Layer - Performs Same Function As Osi Transport Layer Network (Internet Or Internetwork) Layer - Roughly Equivalent To The Osis Network Layer Network Access (Data Link/Physical) Layer - Equivalent To The Osis Physical And Data Link Layers

Logical And Physical Connections Logical Connection Exists Only In The Software Physical Connection Exists In The Hardware In A Network Architecture Only Lowest Layer Contains Physical Connection All Higher Layers Contain Logical Connections

The Tcp/Ip Protocol Suite In Action Note The Flow Of Data From User To Web Browser And Back At Each Layer, Information Is Either Added Or Removed Depends On Whether Data Is Leaving Or Arriving At A Workstation Encapsulation - Adding Information Over Pre-Existing Information

SOFTWARE (INSTRUCTIONS EXECUTED BY A COMPUTER):Applications Complete, Self-Contained Programs That Perform A Specific Function (Ie. Spreadsheets, Databases) Bit A Computer's Most Basic Unit Of Information Boot The Process Of Loading Or Initializing An Operating System On A Computer; Usually Occurs As Soon As A Computer Is Turned On Browser A Program Used To View World Wide Web Pages, Such As Netscape Navigator Or Internet Explorer Bug A Part Of A Program That Usually Causes The Computer To Malfunction; Often Remedied In Patches Or Updates To The Program Byte Small Unit Of Data Storage; 8 Bits; Usually Holds One Character Click Occurs When A User Presses A Button On A Mouse Which In Turn, Generates A Command To The Computer Database A Large Structured Set Of Data; A File That Contains Numerous Records That Contain Numerous Fields Diskette A Small Flexible Disk Used For Storing Computer Data Double Click Occurs When A User Presses A Button On The Mouse Twice In Quick Succession; This Generates A Command To The Computer Download Transferring Data From Another Computer To Your Computer Drag Occurs When A User Points The Mouse At An Icon Or Folder, Presses The Button And Without Releasing The Button, Moves The Icon Or Folder To Another Place On The Computer Where The Button Is Released Driver Software Program That Controls A Piece Of Hardware Or A Peripheral Faq Frequently Asked Question; Documents That Answer Questions Common To A Particular Website Or Program File Namable Unit Of Data Storage; An Element Of Data Storage; A Single Sequence Of Bytes Folder A Graphical Representation Used To Organize A Collection Of Computer Files; As In The Concept Of A Filing Cabinet (Computer's Hard Drive) With Files (Folders) Freeware Software Provided At No Cost To The User Gigabyte 1,073,741,824 Bytes Or 1,024 Megabytes; Generally Abbreviated Gb Gui Graphical User Interface; Uses Pictures And Words To Represent Ideas, Choices, Functions, Etc. Icon A Small Picture Used To Represent A File Or Program In A Gui Interface Internet A Network Of Computer Networks Encompassing The World Wide Web, Ftp, Telnet, And Many Other Protocols Ip Number Internet Protocol; A Computer's Unique Address Or Number On The Internet Kilobyte 1,024 Bytes; Usually Abbreviated Kb Megabyte 1,048,576 Bytes Or 1,024 Kilobytes; Enough Storage To Approximately Equal A 600 Page Paperback Book; Generally Abbreviated Mb Memory Any Device That Holds Computer Data Menu A List Of Operations Available To The User Of A Program Network A Collection Of Computers That Are Connected Peripheral Any Of A Number Of Hardware Devices Connected To A Cpu Ram Random Access Memory; The Type Of Storage That Changes; When The Computer Is Turned Off, The Ram Memory Is Erased Rom Read-Only Memory; The Type Of Storage That Is Not Changed Even When The Computer Is Turned Off Scroll Bar Allows The User To Control Which Portion Of The Document Is Visible In The Window; Available Either Horizontally Or Vertically Or Both Shareware Software Provided At A Minimal Cost To Users Who Are On Their Honor To Send In Payment To The Programmer Spreadsheet A Program Arranged In Rows And Columns That Manipulates Numbers Tool Bar A Graphical Representation Of Program Activities; A Row Of Icons Used To Perform Tasks In A Program Url Uniform Resource Locator; The Address Of A Site On The World Wide Web; A Standard Way Of Locating Objects On The Internet Virus A Deliberately Harmful Computer Program Designed To Create Annoying Glitches Or Destroy Data Window A Screen In A Software Program That Permits The User To View Several Programs At One Time Word Processor A Program That Allows The User To Create Primarily Text Documents