IEEE physical layer specification for 100 Mbps over two pairs of Category 5 UTP or STP wire.

Printed circuit board that plugs into a PC to add to capabilities or connectivity to a PC.  In a networked environment, a network interface card (NIC) is the typical adapater that allows the PC or server to connect to the intranet and/or Internet.

The part of a network that connects most of the systems and networks together and handles the most data.

A binary digit.  The value - 0 or 1-used in the binary numbering system.  Also, the smallest form of data.

To cause the computer to start executing instructions.  Personal computers contain built-in instructions in a ROM chip that are automatically executed on startup.  These instructions search for the operating system, load it and pass control to it.

To receive a file transmitted over a network.  In a communications session, download means receive, upload means transmit.

IEEE standard network protocol that specifies how data is placed on and retrieved from a common transmission medium.  Has a transfer rate of 10 Mbps.  Forms the underlying transport vehicle used by several upper-level protocols, including TCP/IP and XNS.

A 100 Mbps technology based on the 10Base-T Ethernet CSMA/CD network access method.

The ability of a device or line to transmit data simultaneously in both directions.

Data transmission that can occur in the two directions over a single line, but only one direction at a time.

Hardware is the physical aspect of computers, telecommunications and other information technology devices.  The term arose as a way to distinguish the "box" and the electronic circuity and componenets of a computer from the program you put in it to make it do things.  The program came to be known as the software.

The device that serves as the central location for attaching wires from workstations.  Can be passive, where there is no amplification of the signals; or active, where the hubs are used like repeaters to provide an extension of the cable that connects to a workstation.

A Local Area Network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line and typically share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area.

A motherboard is the typical physical arrangement in a computer that contains the computer's basic circuitry and components.

A system that transmits any combination of voice, video and/or data between users.

A board installed in a computer system, usually a PC, to provide network communication capabilities to and from that computer system.  Also called an adapter.

A notebook computer is a battery-powered personal computer generally smaller than a briefcase that can easily be transported and conveniently used in temporary spaces such as on airplanes, in libraries, temporary offices, and at meetings.  A notebook computer, sometimes called a laptop computer, typically weighs less than five pounds and is three inches or less in thickness.

A pathway into and out of the computer or a network device such as a switch or router.  For example, the serial and parallel ports on a personal computer are external sockets for plugging in communication lines, modems and printers.

A connector similiar to a telephone connector that holds up to eight wires, used for connecting Ethernet devices.

Instructions for the computer.  A series of instructions that performs a particular task is called a "program".  The two major categories of software are "system software" and "application software".  System software is made up of control programs such as the operating system and database management systems (DBMS).  Application software is any program that processes data fro the user.  A common misconception is that software is data.  It is not.  Software tells the hardware how to process the data.

1. A data switch connects computing devices to host computers, allowing a large number of devices to share a limited number of ports.  2. A device for making, breaking or changing the connections in an electrical circuit.