Networking

Network Address Translation: a method of mapping multiple private IP addresses to a single public IP address. NAT is used in routers to allow multiple devices on a local network to share a single inte...

Network Time Protocol: a protocol for synchronizing clocks of computer systems over packet-switched networks. NTP can achieve millisecond-level accuracy and is essential for logging, authentication, a...

A networking device that connects devices within the same network and forwards data based on MAC addresses. Switches operate at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model and provide dedicated ban...

The arrangement of nodes and connections in a computer network. Common topologies include star (all nodes connect to a central hub), mesh (every node connects to every other), ring, bus, and tree. The...

Open Shortest Path First: a link-state routing protocol used within large enterprise networks to find the best path for data packets. OSPF uses Dijkstra's algorithm to calculate the shortest path and...

Post Office Protocol version 3: a protocol for retrieving email from a mail server that downloads messages to the local device and typically deletes them from the server. POP3 is simpler than IMAP but...

A formatted unit of data carried across a network. Each packet contains a header (source and destination addresses, protocol information) and a payload (the actual data being transmitted). Networks br...

An intermediary server that sits between clients and destination servers, forwarding requests on behalf of the client. Proxy servers provide anonymity, caching, content filtering, access control, and...

Quality of Service: a set of technologies and techniques for managing network traffic to ensure reliable performance of critical applications. QoS prioritizes certain types of traffic (e.g., VoIP, vid...

A networking device that forwards data packets between different networks by examining destination IP addresses and determining the best path. Routers operate at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI...

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol: the standard protocol for sending email messages between servers. SMTP handles the routing and delivery of outgoing mail and is typically used alongside POP3 or IMAP for...

Simple Network Management Protocol: a protocol for collecting and organizing information about managed devices on IP networks and for modifying that information to change device behavior. SNMP is wide...

Secure Shell: a cryptographic network protocol for operating network services securely over an unsecured network. SSH is most commonly used for remote command-line access, file transfers (SCP/SFTP), a...

A logical subdivision of an IP network created by dividing a network into smaller, more manageable segments. Subnetting improves network performance, security, and address allocation by grouping devic...

Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol: the fundamental communication protocol suite of the internet. TCP ensures reliable, ordered delivery of data while IP handles addressing and routing...

A network protocol that provides a command-line interface for communicating with a remote device over a TCP connection. Telnet transmits data in plain text without encryption, making it insecure for m...

User Datagram Protocol: a connectionless transport protocol that sends datagrams without establishing a connection or guaranteeing delivery. UDP is faster than TCP and is used for real-time applicatio...

Virtual Local Area Network: a logical grouping of network devices that behave as if they are on the same physical LAN, regardless of their actual location. VLANs segment network traffic for improved s...

Wide Area Network: a telecommunications network that extends over a large geographical area, connecting multiple LANs together. The internet is the largest WAN, while private WANs connect branch offic...

A family of wireless network protocols based on the IEEE 802.11 standards, used for local area networking and internet access. Wi-Fi allows devices to connect to a network without physical cables, wit...