PPPoE Acronym for
protocol A set of rules and conventions for sending information over a network. These rules govern the content, format, timing, sequencing, and error control of messages exchanged among network devices. For example, your computer connects to the Internet using the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
resource In reference to a “network resource,” a resource is any type of hardware (such as a modem or printer) or software (such as an application, file, or game) that users can share on a network.
router See “base station.”
server A computer or software program that mediates the connections between client computers or programs on a network. The server also responds to requests and provides shared resources, such as storage space or processing power, to clients on the network.
sharing To make the files, folders, or printers that are on one computer (or connected to one computer) available to other computers on a network.
SSID Acronym for “Service Set Identifier,” also known as a “wireless network name.” An SSID value uniquely identifies your wireless network and is case sensitive.
static IP address A static Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique identifier that is assigned permanently to a computer by a network administrator or an Internet service provider (ISP). IP addresses are required in order for computers to find one another and communicate over the Internet. Contrast with “dynamic IP address.”
subnet A distinct network that forms part of a larger computer network. Subnets are connected through routers and can use a shared network address to connect to the Internet.
subnet mask Similar in form to an Internet Protocol (IP) address, a subnet mask is provided by your Internet service provider (ISP) and used to configure a networked computer for proper communication with a network. An example of a subnet mask value is 255.255.0.0.
switch Like a hub, a switch is a device that has multiple ports and that serves as a connection point for Ethernet cables on a network. But a switch only forwards data packets to the computer that has requested them. A router is a specialized kind of switch.
TCP/IP Acronym for “Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.” A networking protocol that allows computers to communicate across interconnected networks and the Internet. Every computer on the Internet communicates by using TCP/IP.