Seanet - Glossary of Internet Terms

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Glossary of Internet Terms

Glossary

Backbone: Major high-speed transmission path in a network.
Browser: Software used to access the World Wide Web. For example, Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer.
Cache: Pronounced "cash." A cache is stored files. For example, Web browsers often cache, or store, frequently visited Web sites so that the pages don't have to re-downloaded everytime you visit the same site. This speeds up the load-time for the Web pages.
CGI (Common Gateway Interface): A CGI is a external program that can be run from a web browser. CGI's can be written in many different languages, the most common being C, C++, and Perl.
CO (Central Office): Hub or switching station for the telephone network. Each CO serves a specific geographic area.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol): A protocol used by a server/router that allows the client stations to be configured dynamically. The clients receive all their IP addresses, gateways, and DNS from the server/router, rather than having the settings statically configured on each client.
Dial-Up Access: The ability to use a computer and modem to access another computer or network via a phone line.
DNS: Domain Name Server. The DNS server contains the records for domains. For example: The DNS records for seanet.com point www.seanet.com to the IP address 199.181.164.6.
Domain Name: Mapped to a particular numeric address. This takes the place of having to use an IP address number. Also, the name hierarchy on the Internet. Consists of a sequence of names separated by periods. Common extensions include: .com (commercial), .edu (education), .gov (government), and .org (organizations). Countries usually have their own extensions. For example, .ca (Canada) and .uk (United Kingdom).
Download: To copy data from a remote computer into your local computer.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): A high-speed access line that uses existing copper telephone wires.
Electronic Discussion Group: Computerized discussion group, dealing with a specific topic, that allows subscribers to discuss issues and exchange information electronically.
E-Mail (Electronic Mail): A computer and network-based messaging system that exchanges mail electronically.
File Server: Centrally located computer that acts as a storehouse of data and applications for users of a LAN (Local Area Network)
FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Protocol which allows transfer of files from one computer to another.
FTP Client: Internet application that allows access to a remote computer over the Internet either anonymously or using an ID and password in order to copy files between the remote computer and a local computer.
Gateway: The IP address that client machines use to access the Internet.
Homepage: Web page that is displayed when your browser is opened.
HTML (HyperText Mark-up Language): A set of elements (tags) that define a document and guide its display. HTML controls and instructs your Web browser -- telling it how to display the information it's given (i.e., text, graphics, sound, etc.).
Internet: Wide Area Network (WAN) made up of many interconnected networks around the globe.
IP (Internet Protocol): Protocol which operates at the network layer breaking messages into packets and providing addresses for each packet.
IP Address: Unique Internet number that indicates a specific computer.
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network): A 56-128 kilobit access line that requires a special modem or router to connect.
NAT (Network Address Translation): A service used by routers/servers to connect one subnet to another. For example: A router with a single public IP address uses NAT to route a private subnet to and from the Internet.
ISP (Internet Service Provider): Internet Service Providers are companies that sell access to the Internet. Seanet is an ISP.
NIC Card: Sometimes called a network card, this is a card that goes in your computer and allows you to connect to an ethernet network.
POP (Post Office Protocol): The e-mail protocol used by a typical Seanet user.
PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol): A common protocol for Internet connections.
Search Engines: Search engines are Web sites that help you search the Internet for other Web sites based on keywords you provide.
Servers: A computer directly connected to the Internet that is dedicated to serving data.
Shareware: Software that is free to download, but must be paid for after the trial period is over.
SMTP(Send Mail Transfer Protocol or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol): The mail protocol used by users with their own domain and mail server.
T - 1: A dedicated digital line that is capable of transmitting 1.445 Mbps. This type of line is very reliable, but also rather expensive, so usually is only appropriate for larger businesses.
T - 3: A dedicated digital line that is capable of transmitting 44.736 Mbps. This type of line is usually only used by very large businesses or ISP's.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol): The basic communication language or protocol of the Internet. TCP/IP is responsible for end-to-end message delivery.
Telnet: Text-based method for accessing a remote computer.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator): Address of a file accessible on the Web, (i.e., a Web page, an image file, or a Java applet). Example: <http://www.seanet.com> is our URL.
Usenet Newsgroups: Public forums that contain articles posted by individual readers.


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