A Comprehensive Guide to Networking Terms and Definitions

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AI networking involves the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into network management and enhancement. It utilizes AI algorithms and machine learning methods to sift through network data, detect trends, and make informed decisions aimed at elevating network performance, security, and overall efficiency.

5G represents a rapid cellular wireless technology tailored for enterprise IoT, IIoT, and mobile devices, significantly increasing wireless throughput by up to ten times.

Private 5G: a tailored mobile network designed and operated within a private setting, such as a corporate campus, manufacturing facility, or sports arena. In contrast to public 5G networks, which are accessible to numerous users, private 5G networks are dedicated to a single organization or entity. Although private 5G presents considerable benefits, it necessitates specific expertise and investment for construction and management.

Network slicing is a technology that optimizes the wireless capacity of carriers, allowing the development of 5G virtual networks tailored to the specific requirements of customers.

O-RAN refers to a cooperative initiative within the wireless industry focused on the design and implementation of 5G radio access networks through software-defined methods combined with general-purpose, vendor-agnostic hardware.

Beamforming is a technology that directs a wireless signal to a specific receiver, as opposed to emitting the signal in all directions like traditional broadcast antennas. This results in a connection that is both quicker and more dependable than connections that do not utilize beamforming.

Data centers serve as secure facilities where businesses store critical applications and data. They are transitioning from being centralized on-premises structures to incorporating edge solutions and public-cloud offerings.

Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) is a key metric that assesses the energy efficiency of a data center.

Data center automation involves utilizing technology to automate everyday tasks and workflows in a data center. By employing software and automation tools, operators can enhance their operations, minimize human error, boost efficiency, and improve overall performance. Common areas for implementing data center automation include provisioning, monitoring, and network orchestration and maintenance. This approach yields numerous advantages such as heightened efficiency, cost reduction, improved reliability, greater scalability, and enhanced security. Data center automation can be achieved through scripting languages (like Python, or PowerShell), automation platforms (such as Ansible, Puppet, and Chef), as well as cloud-based management tools.

Data center sustainability refers to the practice of designing, constructing, and operating data centers in a manner that minimizes their environmental impact by lowering energy consumption, reducing water usage, and decreasing waste generation. This includes encouraging sustainable practices such as renewable energy sources and efficient resource management.

Hyperconverged infrastructure integrates computing, storage, and networking into a unified system, making it a common solution in data centers. Businesses can opt for an appliance from a single provider or deploy hardware-agnostic hyperconvergence software on standard servers.

Network firewalls serve as the cornerstone of perimeter defense for numerous organizations. Since their inception, they have evolved into various forms such as proxy, stateful, web application firewalls, and next-generation firewalls.

Next-generation firewalls protect network perimeters and boast features that allow for detailed traffic inspection, including intrusion prevention systems, deep-packet inspection, and SSL inspection, all consolidated within a single framework.

Infiniband is a highly specialized technology known for its exceptional performance and scalability, making it indispensable for organizations that demand top-tier network performance. This high-performance interconnect technology facilitates low-latency, high-bandwidth communication among servers, storage devices, and other computing components. It caters especially well to scenarios requiring swift data transfer such as scientific computing, financial modeling, and video rendering. Infiniband finds common application in HPC clusters, data centers, supercomputers, and scientific research.

Ethernet stands among the original networking technologies, having been invented 50 years ago. Despite its age, this communications protocol can adapt to modern advancements while maintaining backward compatibility, allowing Ethernet to persist as the de facto standard for computer networking. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) workloads, major players in the network industry are collaborating to ensure Ethernet networks meet AI’s demanding performance requirements. Fundamentally, Ethernet enables communication between computers—from servers to laptops—across wired networks utilizing devices like routers, switches, and hubs for traffic management. Moreover, Ethernet operates seamlessly alongside wireless protocols.

The internet is an interconnected network of computers that utilize internet protocol (IP) for global communication via a network of switches and routers designed to efficiently manage traffic and ensure resilience in case part of the network fails.

Tier 1 internet service providers (ISP) interconnect their high-speed fiber-optic networks to form the internet backbone, enabling effective traffic movement across different geographic areas.

An IP address is a distinctive sequence of numbers or a combination of letters and numbers allocated to each device on an IP network, facilitating the accurate delivery of data packets by switches and routers to their intended destinations.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): In the PaaS model, a cloud provider offers a platform that enables developers to build, execute, and manage applications. This includes the operating system, programming languages, databases, and various development tools, allowing developers to concentrate on application development without the need to concern themselves with the underlying infrastructure.

Network as a service (NaaS): NaaS refers to a cloud-based offering that delivers network infrastructure components, including routers, switches, and firewalls, as a service. This solution enables businesses to access and manage their network resources through a cloud platform.

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS): IaaS supplies the essential elements of cloud computing—servers, storage, and networking—allowing users significant control over their cloud environments. However, it also means they must take charge of the operating systems, applications, and other related components.

IPv6 represents the newest version of internet protocol, which vastly increases the possible number of IP addresses from 4.3 billion (as seen in IPv4) to 340 trillion trillion. This expansion is crucial for accommodating unique addresses for every device anticipated to connect to the public internet.

The internet of things (IoT) comprises a network of interconnected smart devices that deliver valuable operational data to businesses. It serves as an encompassing term for the increasing array of electronics that, while not traditional computing devices, are linked to the internet to collect data, receive commands, or both.

The industrial internet of things (IIoT) facilitates the connection of machines and devices across various industries. It involves the implementation of instruments alongside connected sensors and devices for machinery and transport vehicles in sectors such as energy and manufacturing.

Industry 4.0 combines innovative technologies to forge tailored industrial solutions aimed at optimizing resource use. It integrates the supply chain directly with the ERP system and the production line, creating integrated, automated, and potentially autonomous manufacturing processes that enhance the efficiency of capital, raw materials, and human resources.

The landscape surrounding the Internet of Things often features a complex mix of protocols, standards, and technologies, and this serves as a guide to fundamental IoT terminology.

NB-IoT is a communication standard intended for IoT devices to function through carrier networks. It can operate within the existing GSM bandwidth some cellular services utilize, within an unused “guard band” between LTE channels, or independently.

Internet Protocol (IP) refers to the governing rules that dictate how data is formatted and transmitted over IP networks. 

DHCP, which stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, is an IP-network protocol that enables servers to automatically assign IP addresses to devices on the network, allowing them to share essential information and communicate with other endpoints effectively.

The Domain Name System (DNS) is responsible for resolving the familiar names of websites into their respective IP addresses, thus enhancing efficiency and providing an added layer of security.

IPv6 represents the most current version of Internet Protocol, designed to identify devices on the internet for better location tracking while simultaneously managing data packets more effectively, enhancing overall performance, and strengthening security measures.

An IP address is a unique identifier made up of numbers and letters that designates devices connecting to a network utilizing the Internet Protocol for communication. These addresses allow devices within IP networks to establish their own identities, facilitating their ability to locate and interact with one another.

Network management involves the organization and oversight of computer networks, ensuring they operate smoothly and efficiently.

Intent-based networking (IBNS) provides network managers with the capability to articulate their objectives for the network using straightforward language. A management platform then automates the configuration of network devices to achieve the desired outcomes and uphold necessary policies.

Microsegmentation facilitates the establishment of secure zones across networks, including in data centers and cloud environments, by dividing sections so that only specific users and applications are granted access to particular segments.

Software-defined networking (SDN) represents a transformative method for managing networks, allowing for agile and programmatically streamlined configuration that enhances both performance and monitoring capabilities. This approach functions by decoupling the control plane from the data plane, facilitating comprehensive network-wide updates without the need to manually adjust each individual device.

Network security encompasses the various policies, procedures, and practices established to thwart, identify, and oversee unauthorized access, misuse, alterations, or service disruptions on a computer network along with its accessible resources.

Identity-based networking links a user’s identity to the specific network services they are entitled to utilize.

Microsegmentation offers a methodology for establishing secure zones within networks, data centers, and cloud environments by isolating different sections, ensuring that only authorized users and applications have access to each distinct segment.

Network Access Control represents a strategy in computer security that aims to harmonize endpoint-security technology along with user or system authentication while enforcing network security protocols.

Secure access service edge (SASE) is a network architecture that integrates software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) with security into a cloud solution that aims at making WAN deployment simpler, enhancing efficiency and security, while ensuring that the right bandwidth is allocated per application. Coined by Gartner in 2019, SASE provides an all-encompassing solution tailored for securing and optimizing network access in the contemporary hybrid work landscape. Its fundamental components comprise the following:

Secure web gateway (SWG): This component filters and scrutinizes web traffic, blocking harmful content and preventing access to unauthorized websites.

Cloud access security broker (CASB): This element enforces security policies and controls for cloud services, safeguarding data and obstructing unauthorized access.

Zero trust network access (ZTNA): This grants access to applications based upon user identity and device security status, rather than depending on network location.

Firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS): This provides a cloud-hosted firewall designed to shield networks from threats and unauthorized entries.

Unified management: A centralized interface for overseeing and monitoring both network assets and security elements.

Automation: Implementing automated workflows and regulations to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.

Analytics: Utilizing advanced analytics to derive insights regarding network and security effectiveness.

A network switch functions at the Data Link layer of the OSI model — specifically Layer 2. It receives packets sent by devices connected to its physical ports and redistributes them, but solely through the ports that connect to the devices the packets are meant for. These switches can also operate at Layer 3, where routing happens.

The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model serves as a framework for organizing messages transmitted between any two entities within a network.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) refers to the method of supplying electrical energy to devices connected to a network through the same cabling used for data transmission. This innovation simplifies device design by removing the requirement for a power outlet and converter, eliminating the need for independent AC electrical wiring and sockets near every device.

A router serves as a key networking component that directs data packets among various computer networks. Operating at Layer 3 of the OSI model, routers handle traffic management between different subnets both within organizations and across the internet.

The Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is a standardized framework for exchanging routing and reachability information among the numerous autonomous systems on the internet.

User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is a communication protocol notable for its role in establishing connections that prioritize low latency and can tolerate some packet loss between internet applications. It accelerates data transmission by allowing data to be sent before the receiving device has confirmed the connection.

Storage networking involves the interconnection of external storage resources via a network to all linked computers and nodes.

Network-attached storage (NAS) refers to a type of file-level storage connected to a network, facilitating data access and file sharing in diverse client and server environments.

A communication protocol designed for all-flash storage, NVMe offers enhanced performance and density over older protocols. It is tailored for enterprise tasks that demand high performance, like real-time data analytics, online trading platforms, and other workloads sensitive to latency.

A storage-area network (SAN) consists of a dedicated, high-speed network that grants access to block-level storage. SANs were implemented to enhance application availability and performance by isolating storage traffic from other LAN traffic.

Virtualization refers to the process of creating a virtual version of various components, including virtual hardware platforms, storage solutions, and network resources. This concept encompasses virtual servers that can operate separately while sharing the same physical hardware.

A hypervisor is a type of software that acts as a bridge between a computer’s operating system and its physical hardware, facilitating the sharing of resources among multiple virtual machines.

Network virtualization merges network hardware and software with their functionalities into a singular software-based entity known as a virtual network. This approach typically integrates platform and resource virtualization.

Network functions virtualization (NFV) leverages standard server hardware to substitute specialized network appliances, thereby providing more adaptable, efficient, and scalable service solutions.

An application delivery controller (ADC) serves as a networking tool designed to manage and enhance the connections between client devices and web or enterprise application servers. Essentially, an ADC can be either a hardware unit or a software solution that regulates and directs data flow to various applications.

A virtual machine (VM) represents a software environment that enables the operation of programs or applications independently of a physical machine. Within a VM instance, multiple guest machines can be executed on a single physical host computer.

A virtual private network facilitates secure connections for remote access and site-to-site communications at a low cost, serving as a critical foundation for software-defined WANs, and is notably advantageous within the context of IoT.

Split tunneling refers to a configuration that guarantees only the traffic intended for corporate assets is routed through the organization’s internet VPN, while all other traffic is sent outside the VPN directly to various internet destinations.

A WAN or wide-area network is a type of network that connects various locations through a variety of links including private lines, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), virtual private networks (VPNs), and wireless technologies such as cellular connectivity. It enables organizations to connect offices and remote employees to headquarters or data centers situated across large distances.

Data deduplication, often referred to as dedupe, involves detecting and removing identical data blocks from datasets, thus minimizing the traffic on WAN links. This technology can identify repetitive data across different files, directories, data types, and even servers located in various places.

Multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) serves as a communication protocol that allows for reliable connections necessary for real-time applications; however, its high costs prompt many companies to explore SD-WAN as a more cost-effective alternative.

Secure access service edge (SASE) represents a network architecture that integrates software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) with security into a cloud service, promising easier WAN deployment and enhanced efficiency and security while delivering suitable bandwidth for each application. The term SASE, introduced by Gartner in 2019, provides a holistic solution for securing and optimizing network access in the evolving hybrid workplace. Its key components include:

Secure web gateway (SWG): This feature inspects and filters web traffic to block malicious content and stop unauthorized website access.

Cloud access security broker (CASB): This controls and enforces security measures for cloud applications, safeguarding data and restricting unauthorized access.

Zero trust network access (ZTNA): Provides application access based on user identity and device status rather than their network location.

Firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS): This service offers a cloud-based firewall to shield networks from threats and prevent unwarranted access.

Unified management: A centralized system designed for comprehensive management and monitoring of both network and security elements.

Automation: This involves automated workflows and policies aimed at streamlining operations and boosting efficiency.

Analytics: Advanced analytical capabilities to gain insights into network and security performance.

Software-defined wide-area networks (SD-WAN) is a type of software that administers and regulates the routing of WAN traffic to the suitable wide-area connection, all while considering various policies. These policies account for factors such as cost, link performance, time of day, and specific application requirements. Like its more extensive technology counterpart, software-defined networking, SD-WAN separates the control plane from the data plane.

Virtual private networks (VPNs) allow for the establishment of secure remote-access and site-to-site connections at a low cost. They serve as a viable option within SD-WANs and are increasingly valuable in the realm of IoT.

Wi-Fi encompasses the wireless LAN technologies that implement the IEEE 802.11 standards for communication. These Wi-Fi products leverage radio waves to transfer data between devices equipped with Wi-Fi software clients and access points that direct this data to the connected wired network.

802.11ad is an amendment to the IEEE 802.11 wireless networking standard aimed at delivering a multi-gigabit wireless system operating at the 60 GHz frequency, thereby acting as a standard for WiGig networks.

802.11ay represents a proposed upgrade to the existing technical specifications for Wi-Fi as of 2021. It follows IEEE 802.11ad and is set to quadruple the available bandwidth while introducing MIMO technology that supports up to 8 streams. This will mark the introduction of the second WiGig standard.

802.11ax, known commercially as Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, functions as an IEEE standard for wireless local-area networks and is the successor to 802.11ac. It is often referred to as High Efficiency Wi-Fi due to its enhancements aimed at improving performance for Wi-Fi 6 clients in crowded environments.

Wi-Fi 6E extends the capabilities of Wi-Fi 6 by utilizing unlicensed wireless technology within the 6GHz frequency band, offering reduced latency and higher data rates compared to Wi-Fi 6. This spectrum comes with a shorter range but accommodates more channels than previously allocated bands, making it an excellent choice for high-density venues like stadiums.

Beamforming is a method that directs a wireless signal specifically towards a designated receiving device, contrasting with the traditional diffusion of the signal in all directions from a broadcasting antenna. This more targeted approach results in a quicker and more dependable connection.

Enterprises no longer need to deploy dedicated Wi-Fi controllers in their data centers since the responsibility can be shared among access points or even transitioned to the cloud, although this solution may not suit everyone.

MU-MIMO refers to multi-user, multiple input, multiple output, representing a wireless technology utilized by routers and various endpoint devices. It is a progression from single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO), commonly just called MIMO. This technology was developed to enhance the ability for single access points to manage multiple users simultaneously, primarily by increasing the number of antennas present on a wireless router.

The Orthogonal frequency-division multiple-access (OFDMA) feature significantly boosts Wi-Fi 6, allowing for greater throughput and network efficiency by enabling numerous clients to simultaneously connect to a single access point.

The 802.11ax, known as Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E by the Wi-Fi Alliance, is an IEEE standard for wireless local-area networks and succeeds 802.11ac. It’s also recognized as High Efficiency Wi-Fi due to the comprehensive enhancements it provides for Wi-Fi 6 clients in densely populated settings.

Constant advancements in Wi-Fi standards enhance the density and speed of Wi-Fi networks.

The WPA3 Wi-Fi security protocol addresses the limitations of WPA2, providing improved security for personal, enterprise, and IoT wireless networks.

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