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A B C D E F G H I L M N P R S T U V W
Select the first letter of the word from the list above to jump to
appropriate section of the glossary.
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- address mask (Subnet Mask)
- This is used to recognize the sections of an IP address
that concur with the different parts. Also known as the "subnet
mask".
- alias
- A nickname that refers to a network resource.
- anonymous FTP
- This is a method of bypassing security checks when you
logon to an FTP site. This is done by typing "anonymous" as your user ID
and your email address as the password.
- application
- A program that performs for a certain purpose.
- archie
- A method of automatically collecting, indexing, and
retrieving files from the Internet.
- ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)
- A transfer mode that designates bandwidth using a
fixed-size packet or cell. Also called a "fast packet".
- authentication
- A method of identifying the user to make sure the user
is who he says he is.
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- bandwidth
- A measurement in Hz that reads the difference between
the highest and lowest frequencies of a transmission.
- BBS (Bulletin Board System)
- A computer which provides file archives, email, and
announcements of interest. Users usually dial in with a terminal program
to access these.
- bounce
- This term refers to when you send an email to a
non-existent recipient and the email is "bounced" back to you.
- BTW
- By the way.
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- CHAP (Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol)
- A method of authentication when connecting to an Internet service
provider.
- CHAT
- Conversational Hypertext Access Technology.
- CIX
- Commercial Internet Exchange.
- client
- An application that performs for a certain purpose. To primary
types of computers drive the Internet: clients and servers.
There's no physical difference between the two machines. The real
difference lies in how they are used.
Clients are the computers being used by people to surf the net,
send emails, or play games etc. Servers run the software for
web hosting, file transfer protocol (FTP), telnet, or email.
For example when you type www.bbc.co.uk in your browser, your
machine (client) sends a request to the remote http (server) for
a copy of that page. The server then sends a copy of that page
back to the client. Email works pretty much in the same way.
- cookies
- A cookie is a file of information that a website puts on your
hard disk so that it can recall information about your computer
at a later time. Typically, a cookie records your preferences
when you access a particular website. Since each request for
a web page is independent of all other requests, a web page server
has no memory of what pages it has sent to a user previously or
anything about your previous visits. A cookie is a mechanism that
allows the server to store its own information about a user on
the user's own computer. You can view the cookies that have been
stored on your hard disk, although the content stored in each
cookie may not make much sense to you. The location of the cookies
depends on the browser. Internet Explorer stores each cookie as
a separate file under a Windows subdirectory. Netscape stores
all cookies in a single cookies.txt file. The "Opera" web browser
stores them in a single cookies.dat file. Cookies are commonly
used to rotate the banner ads that a site sends so that it doesn't
keep sending the same ad as it sends when you view a succession
of requested pages. They can also be used to customize pages for
you based on your browser type or other information you may have
provided the website. Web users must agree to let cookies be
saved for them, but, in general, it helps websites to serve users
better.
- cracker
- Persons who attempt to gain illegal access to computers. Not
to be confused with hackers.
- Cyberspace
- According to William Gibson, "the world of computers and the
society that gathers around them."
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- Data Encryption Key (DEK)
- Used for encryption and decryption of message text.
- Data Encryption Standard (DES)
- Standardized encryption method used most on the Internet.
- datagram
- A block of data that can travel from one Internet site to another
without relying on an earlier exchange between the source and
destination computers.
- DDN (Defense Data Network)
- The United States Department of Defense global communications
network.
- DECnet
- A proprietary network protocol designed by Digital Equipment
Corporation.
- dedicated line
- A communications line used solely for computer connections,
such as T1 and T3 lines. An additional phone line solely for your
modem is a dedicated line as well.
- dial-up
- Most widely used way of accessing the Internet. This involves
one computer connecting to another by way of a modem.
- DNS (Domain Name Service)
- The domain name system (DNS) is the way that Internet domain names
are located and translated into IP (Internet Protocol) addresses.
A domain name (e.g., www.ibm.com) is) is an easy-to-remember "handle"
for an Internet address (e.g., 204.146.81.99). DNS servers maintain
a database of domain names and their corresponding IP addresses.
Because maintaining a list of all the millions of domain name-to-IP
address pairs would be impractical on any one server, the lists
of domain names and IP addresses are distributed throughout the
Internet in a hierarchy of authoritative servers. If your computer
is on the Internet, it points to one or more local DNS servers.
These DNS servers in turn point to increasingly more authoritative
DNS servers which tell your computer how to reach
distant domain names.
- domain
- An area on a host or an IP address.
- dot address
- IP addresses in the form of 1.1.1.1 in a 4-byte IP address where
each number is equal to 1 byte.
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- email (Electronic Mail)
- Electronic mail, or email, is a way users with a
computer can send messages between each other easily and more quickly
than regular mail.
- email address
- A person’s email address is usually like this:
Userid@domain.com
Userid represents the identification of the person, the
@ is what separates the userid from the domain name, and the domain name
refers to the host that the person is using.
- encryption
- This is what Internet security is built upon.
Encryption will scramble information so it is readable only by the
intended recipient.
- ethernet
- An Ethernet connection is a LAN (Local Area Network)
that consists of computers connected by twisted-pair or coaxial cable.
Transfers can be made on an Ethernet connection at up to 10 Mb/s.
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- FAQ
- Stands for Frequently Asked Questions. FAQ’s are
available almost anywhere on the Internet. FAQ’s are usually used as a
place to look for help or advice when working on the Internet or on your
computer.
- Finger
- A finger is a UNIX command that displays information
about a group or user on the Internet.
- flame
- This is a negative response to a newsgroup posting or
email message. If a user makes a newsgroup post or sends an email message that is deemed inappropriate, they might get flamed. The most popular
method of flaming is a mail bomb. This is where the sender or poster
receives an overwhelming amount of messages in his or her mailbox and
their system can crash.
- follow-up
- A response to a newsgroup posting or email
message.
- FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
- FTP is the most widely used protocol to upload and download files on an Internet connection. FTP’s are used so computers can share files between each other.
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- Gopher
- A search and retrieval tool for information used mostly
for research.
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- hacker
- A user of a computer who attempts to understand the particulars
of a computer. A hacker will look for ways around things while
using a computer.
- host
- Any computer that is connected to the Internet or a network.
- host address
- The address of the host computer which is on the Internet.
- HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
- HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. This is the standard
method of publishing web documents onto the World Wide Web (WWW).
HTML consists of tags surrounded by brackets.
- HTTP
- The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the set of rules for
exchanging files (text, graphic images, sound, video, and other
multimedia files) on the World Wide Web. Addresses of websites
begin with the familiar http:// prefix. Your web browser is an
HTTP client, sending requests to server machines. When you enter
file requests in your browser, either by typing in a URL (Uniform
Resource Locator) or clicking on a hypertext link, the browser
builds an HTTP request and sends it to a destination server. The
HTTP daemon (software that listens for requests) on the destination
server receives the request and, after any necessary processing,
returns the requested file.
The HTTP response header is a set of data at the beginning of
an HTTP response that is sent by the web server back to the web
browser. It includes the date, size and type of file being sent.
- HTTPS
- HTTPS (Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is a web protocol
developed by Netscape (but useable on many web browsers) that
encrypts and decrypts pages sent to a web server as well as pages
returned by a web server. HTTPS involves the use of software called
the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) as a sublayer under the regular
HTTP application layer. Addresses of HTTPS websites begin with
the https:// prefix.
- hypermedia
- A combination of hypertext and multimedia in a document online.
- hypertext
- A kind of text that permits embedded links to other documents.
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- Internet
- A vast, uncontrolled network of computers that is available
almost anywhere in the world. Basically, when you sign on to the
Internet, you become a part of it.
- IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)
- Internet Message Access Protocol is a method of accessing electronic
mail or bulletin board messages that are kept on a (possibly shared)
mail server.
- IP (Internet Protocol)
- A packet switching protocol that is used as a network layer
in the TCP/IP protocol suite.
- IP Address (Internet Protocol Address)
- Each computer is assigned an IP address. These are similar to
phone numbers. When you attempt to connect to an IP address, you
will connect to the computer with that IP address.
An IP address is a 32-bit number (example 204.146.81.99) that
identifies each sending computer or receiving computer that exchanges
packets of information across the Internet. An IP address has
two parts: the identifier of a particular network on the Internet
and an identifier of the particular host (which can be a server
or a workstation) within that network. When you request an HTML
page or send email, the Internet Protocol part of TCP/IP includes
your computer's IP address in the message (actually, in each of
the packets if more than one is required).
At the other end, the recipient can see the IP address of the
web page requestor or the email sender, and can respond by sending
another message using the IP address it received.
- IRC (Internet Relay Chat)
- Internet Relay Chat, or IRC, allows users to chat on different
channels over the Internet. IRC channels are preceded by a # sign
and are controlled by channel operators. Channel operators can
kick people out of the channel if he or she feels necessary.
- ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
- Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) combines digital
network services and voice into one. Users can access digital
services at 115,200 bps.
- ISP (Internet Service Provider)
- An organization or company that has a network with a direct
link to the Internet. This is done by using a dedicated line connection,
usually through a link known as a T1 connection. Users can dial
into to that network using their modem. Most ISP’s now charge
a monthly fee.
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- LAN
- Local Area Network. A LAN allows users to share files
between computers, send email and access the Internet. Most companies
use Local Area Networks so that users can access information within or
outside the LAN.
- leased line
- A leased line is a dedicated line that connects a user
or network to another network or an ISP.
- Listserv
- An automated mailing list distribution system.
- lurking
- Lurking involves simply listening or watching and not
participating on an IRC channel, a mailing list, or some other type of
Internet connection.
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- mail reflector
- A mail reflector is a program that distributes
information or files to a subscriber of a mailing list, Usenet group, or
an IRC channel.
- mailing list
- A mailing list is a list of email addresses used to
have messages forwarded to groups of people.
- MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail
Extensions)
- Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) is a specification that describes
the transfer and format of media files.
It is included in the header of an HTTP request.
Because different media are transferred over the web (images, text, video),
the MIME header defines what needs to be linked to and transferred.
Both browsers and web servers can be configured as to what MIME types they can transfer or accept.
- mirror site
- A mirror site is usually set up due to overwhelming
traffic on an existing website. A mirror site is a site that is kept
separate from the original site but contains the same information as
that site. This is an alternative to users who attempt to go to a website but cannot due to traffic problems.
- moderator
- A person who manages online discussion groups or
mailing lists for services such as CompuServe, America Online, Prodigy
or the Microsoft Network.
- mosaic
- A graphical browser that supports hypermedia on the
World Wide Web (WWW).
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- netiquette
- Internet etiquette. This refers to proper behavior
while using the Internet.
- NFS (Network File System)
- A Network File System allows a computer to access and
use files over a network, just as if it were a local network.
- NNTP (Network News Transfer Protocol)
- A standard industry protocol for the inquiry,
distribution, retrieval, and posting of news articles.
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- packet
- A standard unit of data sent across a network.
- PAP (Password Authentication Protocol)
- A widely used method to log on to an ISP without using
a terminal window.
- PING (Packet Internet Gopher)
- A Packet Internet Gopher, or PING, is a simple way to
time or test the response of an Internet connection. A PING sends a
request to an Internet host and waits for a reply message called, what
else, a PONG.
- POP
- Installation of telecommunications equipment (Point of
Presence).
A protocol that allows single users to read mail from a
server (Post Office Protocol).
- posting
- Sending an article to a BBS or a Usenet
newsgroup.
- PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol)
- A PPP is a protocol that provides a method for sending
and receiving packets over serial point-to-point links.
- protocol
- A language spoken between computers to assist each
other in sending and receiving information.
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- router
- A device that forwards traffic between networks.
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- server
- Any computer that can provide resources to
another. See client for more information.
- SIG (Special Interest Group)
- A Special Interest Group, or SIG, sponsors different
items such as IRC Channels, Listservs, and Internet Sites.
- signature
- Type that can be automatically added to the end of an
email message that will identify the sender. Signatures are usually
ASCII text files.
- SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol)
- A standard protocol which is used to run TCP/IP over a
serial line. SLIP, however, will not run on a Local Area Network (LAN)
connection.
- smiley
- The use of punctuation marks to show feelings and emotions. For example, a smiley face is :), and a sad face would be :(.
- SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
- A standard protocol used to transfer email
messages.
- SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)
- A standard Internet protocol. It is commonly used to
wire hubs.
- subnet mask (Address Mask)
- This is used to recognize the sections of an IP address
that concur with the different parts. Also known as the "address mask".
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- T1
- A connection of a host to the Internet where data is transferred
at 1.544 megabits per second.
- T3
- A connection of a host to the Internet where data is transferred
at 44.746 megabits per second.
- TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol)
- Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, or TCP/IP,
is the basic communications protocol required for computers that
use the Internet.
Every client and server in a TCP/IP network requires an IP address,
which is either permanently assigned or dynamically assigned.
- TCP/IP Stack
- This is needed to properly run a TCP/IP protocol. It is made
up of TCP/IP software, hardware drivers, and sockets software.
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- Telnet
- This is the standard Internet protocol to connect to remote
terminals.
- TN3270
- A slightly different protocol than Telnet, TN3270 is used to
connect users to an IBM mainframe.
- token ring
- A token ring is a kind of LAN that consists of computers that
are wired into a ring. Each computer is constantly in direct contact
with the next node in the ring. A token, which is a type of control
message, is sent from one node to another, allowing messages to
be sent throughout the network. A token ring network cannot communicate
within itself if one ring is broken.
- topology
- The arrangement of all the computers on a network and the links
that join them.
- Traceroute
- This Internet utility will contact a remote host and return
each hop in the route from the client machine to the remote host
being contacted. It reports the IP addresses of all the routers
in between. Traceroute can be executed from the command prompt
by entering "tracert www.domain.com".
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- URL (Universal Resource Locator)
- An example of a URL would be http://www.siteconfidence.co.uk/index.html.
A Universal Resource Locator refers to the universal address of an
Internet web page. A URL consists of three things. First, it starts with
letters such as http, ftp, or gopher that identify the resource type,
followed by a colon and two forward slashes. Next, the computer’s name
is listed. And finally, the filename and directory of the remote
resource is listed as well.
- Usenet
- A.K.A. newsgroups. There are a vast number of different
newsgroups worldwide on the Internet, available to almost anyone.
- UUCP (UNIX to UNIX Copy)
- A protocol that passes email and news through the
Internet. Originally, UUCP allowed UNIX systems to send and receive
files over phone lines.
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- Veronica
- Allows searches of all gopher sites for directories,
files, and other resources. Veronica is a search engine that is built
into Gopher.
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- WAIS (Wide Area Information Service)
- A search engine and distributed information service
that allows indexed searching and natural language input.
- White Pages
- Databases containing postal addresses, telephone
numbers, and email addresses of users on the Internet.
- Winsocks
- Acronym for Windows Sockets. A set of standards and
specifications for programmers who are programming a TCP/IP application
to use in Windows.
- World Wide Web (W3, WWW)
- A collection of online documents on Internet servers
worldwide. World Wide Web documents are written in HTML. In order to use
the World Wide Web, you must have a World Wide Web browser.
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