Article

Networking terms of endearment, part 1

Here are essential networking terms to help decode networking jargon in kiosk proposals.

March 26, 2002

Kiosk systems can be either networked or non-networked. If all the machines in a kiosk system are networked together, staff in a central office can monitor the machines, reset them if they crash and update software and data. Non-networked systems are referred to as sneaker-nets, because staff put on their sneakers and run to all the machines to perform the same monitoring, maintenance and updates.

These essential networking terms can help decode jargon in proposals and meetings. They're taken from ATMmarketplace.com's Connectivity Glossary.

802.11b - the designation of a high-speed (up to 11 megabits per second) wireless networking standard that allows devices to communicate with each other, using a 2.4-gigahertz radio frequency. The latest 802.11b standard is based on a technology called Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS). DSSS spreads the networked data between several channels in the radio frequency band. This method reduces interference and quickens the speed.

Bandwidth- is the data transmission capacity of a network. For example, the bandwidth of Ethernet networks is commonly 10 or 100 megabits per second (Mbps), while 802.11b wireless network bandwidth equals 11 Mbps. True bandwidth is affected by many factors, such as the condition of lines, interference, and network traffic.

Bluetooth- is a wireless networking standard jointly developed by Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia and Toshiba in 1998. It is a short range standard (10 meters) used for transferring data or voice data between personal computers, laptops, PDAs, and phones, and for connecting peripheral devices such as printers, modems and keyboards to computers. You can find more information at the Bluetooth Special Interest Group Web site.

Broadband- commonly refers to any high speed transmission network. For example, it can refer to a high speed T1 line. Broadband also is generally used to refer to high capacity transmissions, such as video broadcasts over the Internet or other transmissions requiring large amounts of data.

DSL- means Digital Subscriber Line. DSL is a method of increasing the bandwidth of Internet connections over common copper phone lines. While the current capacity of dial-up modems is 56 Kbps, a DSL connection can download as fast as 8 Mbps and upload as fast as 1 Mbps, depending on the type of connection. One downside is that customers must be within a certain minimum distance from their telco's central office. One advantage is that since DSL uses a different frequency than voice, a customer can talk on the phone while connected to the Internet on the same line.

Encryption- is a way of securing data by converting it into a secret code that can't be easily decoded with the key originally used. DES is one encryption standard. Another one, using both a private and public key, is called RSA. Without encryption, financial transactions and ATMs would not be possible. For more information on ATMs and encryption, read "Special Security."

Ethernet- is a local area network (LAN) technology where computers in one small geographic location, typically an office, are connected by cables. The standard is known as IEEE 802.3 and uses coaxial cable to send data through the network at 10 or 100 Mbps. The cable connectors resemble telephone jacks.

Gbps- is a measure of bandwidth and stands for gigabits per second. A gigabit is one billion bits. A bit is the smallest unit of computer data, represented by a 1 or 0.

Internet- is a global network of connected computers. Computers on the Internet use a networking protocol, or standard, known as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) to communicate. The World Wide Web, or Web, is one part of the Internet, as is e-mail, the Usenet news service, and chat services such as the popular Internet Relay Chat (IRC), and AOL's Instant Messenger.

ISDN- stands for integrated services digital network and is a digital line that provides faster bandwidth for dial-up connections than conventional modems. Data rates can be 64 Kbps or as much as 384 Kbps for video conferencing.

ISP- stands for Internet Service Provider. ISP's are companies that sell access to the Internet. They may offer any type of bandwidth connections from slower modem dial-up connections to high speed T1 and T3 lines. ISP's may also design and sell Web sites as well as other broadband services.

Kbps- kilobits per second, a unit of network connection speed equal to 1,000 bits per second. A bit is the smallest unit of computer data, represented by a 1 or 0.

LAN- is an acronym for local area network and refers to a network restricted to a small area, such as is typically found in an office.

Mbps- megabits per second, a unit of network connection speeds equal to a bandwidth of one million bits per second. A bit is the smallest unit of computer data, represented by a 1 or 0.

NIC- is a network interface card. A nic is the device, usually a printed circuit card, that plugs into a computer and into a network, typically the Ethernet. The card controls the computer's (client's) connection to the server. It's also known as a network adapter.

Protocol- refers to any defined set of rules used in computing. Using protocols, computers are able to transmit data and make it intelligible for human use. For instance, TCP/IP is a combination of two protocols used to send data over the Internet. Triple-DES is a protocol used to secure and encrypt data, and Hyptertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) defines how Web pages are sent.

Sneaker-net- is a humorous term for non-networked systems. To update information a kiosk sneaker-net, someone puts on a pair of sneakers and runs around to all the kiosks, making the necessary changes.

T1- is a high speed digital data connection of 1.544 Mbps, widely used on the Internet. It is usually a dedicated line provided by telephone companies to customers.

T3- is a high speed digital data connection of 44.736 Mbps, widely used on the Internet. It is usually a dedicated line provided by telephone companies to customers.

Wireless- is a general designation for communication without wires. In networking, common wireless standards include 802.11b and Bluetooth. Both standards broadcast over the 2.4 gigahertz band. Cellular, satellite, microwave and infrared broadcasting are also forms of wireless communication.

World Wide Web(also W3, WWW, or Web) - A global network of shared documents and other data that runs on top of the Internet. The Web uses hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) to communicate between servers and clients. Clients running a Web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape can view Web documents and graphics, listen to music, watch video and interact with data in many ways.