Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
How Computers Communicate
Early computers did not communicate easily with one another. Data was
typically carried between computers on floppy disks and other low-capacity
removable disks, or using slow dial-up modems. Network connections
were difficult to set up and transferred data very slowly. Nowadays, how-
ever, communication technology has advanced greatly, and there are many
choices for making computers connect to one another.
Ethernet Networking
Most computers today are part of one or more networks. A network is
a group of computers that share resources (such as printers or Internet
service) and/or data (such as files). The most common network stan-
dard is Ethernet . Ethernet networks can be either wired or wireless (or
a combination of the two), but the term Ethernet is most often applied
to the wired kind of connection. Figure 1.14 shows an Ethernet port on
the side of a notebook PC. Most PCs have a network adapter , which
provides network connectivity services and a port into which you can
plug an Ethernet cable.
network Two or more computers connected to
share data and resources.
Ethernet The current dominant standard for local
area networking devices.
network adapter A hardware component that
enables a computer to connect to a network.
© iStockphoto.com/fotoscape
Figure.1 14 Ethernet is the most common type of network connection. Most computers
have an Ethernet port.
Wireless Ethernet is more often called Wi-Fi , or 802.11. Most portable
devices such as tablets and phones use wireless connections and do not
have the capability for wired networking. Chapter 8, “Networking and
Internet Basics,” explains networking technology in more detail.
Wi-Fi Wireless Ethernet. A means of connecting
computers and other devices wirelessly. Another
name for it is IEEE 802.11, its technical standard.
In a small network, such as in a home or small business, one end of an
Ethernet cable plugs into the computer, and the other end plugs into a
controller box called a router that manages the network traffic between
the connected devices. If you have broadband (always on) Internet
access, the device that brings that service into your home or business is
frequently called the router, and then the router shares the Internet con-
nection among all the computers.
router A connection box for Ethernet networks
that physically joins the devices in the network
(wired) or provides wireless connectivity (wireless),
and enables a connection to an outside network
such as the Internet.
broadband A fast, always-on network connection.
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