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NAT
Acronym for
network address translation
. The process of converting between IP addresses used within a private
network and Internet IP addresses. NAT enables all of the computers on a network to share one IP address.
Network
A collection of two or more computers that are connected to each other through wired or wireless means.
These computers can share access to the Internet and the use of files, printers, and other equipment.
Network adapter
Also known as a
network interface card
(NIC). An expansion card or other device used to provide
network access to a computer, printer, or other device.
Network name
The single name of a grouping of computers that are linked together to form a network.
Network printer
A printer that is not connected directly to a computer, but is instead connected directly to a network
through a wired or wireless connection.
Packet
A unit of information transmitted as a whole from one device to another on a network.
PAP
Password Authentication Protocol, the most basic form of authentication, in which a user’s name
and password
are transmitted over a network and compared to a table of name-password pairs. Typically, the passwords stored in
the table are encrypted. The Basic Authentication feature built into the HTTP protocol uses PAP.
PC Card
A peripheral device that adds memory, mass storage, modem capability, or other networking services to
portable computers.
PCI
Acronym for
Peripheral Component Interconnect
. A specific bus type designed to be used with devices that have
high bandwidth requirements.
PCI card
A card designed to fit into a PCI expansion slot in a personal computer. PCI cards provide additional
functionality; for example, two types of PCI cards are video adapters and network interface cards. See PCI.
PCI expansion slot
A connection socket designed to accommodate PCI cards.
PCMCIA
Acronym for
Personal Computer Memory Card International Association
. A nonprofit organization of
manufacturers and vendors formed to promote a common technical standard for PC Card-based peripherals and the
slot designed to hold them, primarily on portable computers and intelligent electronic devices.
Peer-to-peer network
A network of two or more computers that communicate without using a central server. This
lack of reliance on a server differentiates a peer-to-peer network from a client/server network.
PING
A protocol for testing whether a particular computer is connected to the Internet by sending a packet to the
computers IP address and waiting for a response.
Plug and Play
A set of specifications that allows a computer to automatically detect and configure various peripheral
devices, such as monitors, modems, and printers.
Port
A physical connection through which data is transferred between a computer and other devices (such as a
monitor, modem, or printer), a network, or another computer. Also, a software channel for network communications.
PPPoE
Acronym for
Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet
. A specification for connecting users on an Ethernet network
to the Internet by using a broadband connection (typically through a DSL modem).
PPTP
Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol, a technology for creating Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Because the
Internet is essentially an open network, the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) is used to ensure that messages
transmitted from one VPN node to another are secure. With PPTP, users can dial in to their corporate network via the
Internet.
PPTP
IP Security, a set of protocols developed to support secure exchange of packets at the IP layer. IPsec has been
deployed widely to implement Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
Profile
A computer-
based record that contains an individual network’s software settings and identification
information.
Protocol
A set of rules that computers use to communicate with each other over a network.