Here are some terms we use throughout the book. Don't worry too
much about remembering all of these now. We'll reintroduce them in context. If
nothing else, you can use them to intimidate the salespeople at your local
computer store.
LAN (local area network): A network of computers in one
location, usually a home or office.
Network adapter: Also called a
network adapter card (Figure 2.1) or
network interface card (NIC), this is a device you use to connect a computer to
a network.
Access point: This hardware
device allows wireless network cards to connect to a wired network (Figure 2.2). An access point has a wired
component (an Ethernet port) and a wireless component (a radio that allows
wireless network adapters to connect to the network).
Router: A router is a hardware
device, or a software program, which allows one network to connect to another.
In a home network, you can use a router to connect your LAN to the large network
of interconnecting networks called the Internet. You can buy an access point
with a built-in router (Figure 2.3). Your
router will allow you to share a single Internet connection among all the
computers connected to your network.
Gateway: A gateway can be
hardware or software that allows multiple computers to access the network. In
most cases, on a LAN, your gateway is a router. Your gateway could also be a
single computer sharing its Internet connection with the other computers on the
network.
Protocol: A protocol is a
language used by a network to send and receive data. TCP/IP (Transmission
Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol) is the protocol used to transfer data over
the Internet. You can also use TCP/IP as the protocol for your home network, for
sharing Internet access, files, and printers.
Broadband modem: Unlike a
56-kilobit per second modem, which sends and receives data over analog phone
lines, a broadband modem sends a digital signal over your telephone or TV cable
wiring, depending on whether you use a DSL or cable modem, respectively.
Ethernet: A wired standard for
networking hardware. Why mention a wired technology? Some of your equipment,
such as a broadband modem, will connect to your access point by an Ethernet
cable (see Figure 2.4). Until recently,
Ethernet was pretty much the only technology available for networking your
computers.
Hub: A wired hardware device
that is used to connect multiple computers to your network. A hub has ports,
usually four or more, in which you connect an Ethernet cable, which looks like a
phone cable but is slightly thicker (Figure
2.5). You can use a hub to connect wired devices, such as a cable modem or
router, to elements of a wireless network, such as an access point. An access
point works a bit like a wireless hub and connects a wireless network to a wired
network.
Now that you have a basic understanding of these network
components, you will be able to choose the best network for your home or office,
make smart equipment purchases, and set up your network with minimum
headaches.
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