Network Types
This consists of personal devices such as cell phones and laptop computers communicating at close range.
Personal Area Network PAN
This command tests connectivity by sending an echo request to a remote computer. If the remote computer is online, detects the signal, and is configured to respond to the request, it responds. Use this to test for connectivity or to verify that DNS is working
ping
An organization, such as Charter, that provides individuals and organizations access to the Internet via a technology such as cable Internet, DSL, or cellular.
Internet Service Provider ISP
A 32-bit or 128-bit address used to uniquely identify a device or interface on a network that uses TCP/IP protocols.
IP Address
This stands between a local network and the ISP network and manages traffic between them.
Router
This covers a small local area, such as a home, office, or a small group of buildings.
Local Area Network LAN
This command can display network configuration information and refresh the TCP/IP assignments for a connection, including its IP address.
ipconfig
A broadband technology that uses cable TV lines and is always connected (always up). The TV signal to your television and the data signals to your computer or LAN share the same coaxial (coax) connection.
Cable Internet
Any device, such as a desktop computer, laptop, or printer, on a network that requests or serves up data or services to other devices.
Host
A device used to connect nodes and manages several network ports that can be connected to wired computers on the local network. When it receives a packet, it uses its table of MAC addresses to decide where to send the packet.
Switch
This covers a large geographical area and is made up of many smaller networks. The best-known one is the Internet.
Wide Area Network WAN
This command is used to test name resolution problems with DNS servers by allowing you to request information from a DNS server’s zone data. Zone data is the portion of the DNS namespace that the server knows about.
nslookup
A group of broadband technologies that covers a wide range of speeds. It uses ordinary copper phone lines and a range of frequencies on the copper wire that are not used by voice, making it possible for you to use the same phone line for voice and internet at the same time.
DSL Digital Subscriber Line
A four decimal numbers separated by periods. When a computer wants to send a message to a destination computer, it uses this to decide whether the destination computer is on its own network or another network.
Subnet Mask
It enables wireless devices to connect to the network. These wireless connections can be secured using wireless security features.
Wireless Access Point WAP
This covers multiple buildings in a large campus or a portion of a city, such as a downtown area. It’s usually the result of a cooperative effort to improve service to its users.
Metropolitan area network MAN
This command can be useful when you’re trying to resolve a problem reaching a destination host such as an FTP site or website. The command sends a series of requests to the destination computer and displays each hop to the destination.
tracert
One disadvantage of this is that it requires line-of-sight wireless connectivity without obstruction from mountains, trees, and tall buildings. Another disadvantage is that it experiences higher delays in transmission (called latency), especially when uploading.
Satellite
The process of associating a character-based name with an IP address.
name resolution
Hardware and/or software that blocks unwanted Internet traffic from a private network and can restrict Internet access for local computers.
Firewall
This consists of many wireless devices communicating directly with each other rather than through a single, central device. Some or all of the devices on one can serve as connection points for other devices to communicate across longer distances.
Wireless mesh network WMN
This command gives statistics about network activity and includes several parameters.
netstat
A wireless broadband network for computers and mobile devices that uses cellular towers for communication. Also called a cellular network.
Wireless Wide Area Network WWAN
A protocol used by a server to assign a dynamic IP address to a computer when it first attempts to initiate a connection to the network and requests an IP address.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server
It can provide IP addresses to computers and other devices on the local network.
DHCP server