Week 07 vocabulary deck
Network Hardware, Media, and IP Foundations
Say the definition before you flip. Use the example and distinction to repair fuzzy terms, then take the separate vocabulary quiz.Vocabulary lab
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Explain the term before you reveal the back. Then compare your explanation with the definition, example, and warning.
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- router
- A router forwards traffic between different IP networks and commonly acts as a default gateway. Example: A SOHO router connects a private LAN to the ISP-facing network. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse a router with a switch; a switch primarily connects devices within a local network.
- switch
- A network switch forwards Ethernet frames between devices on the same local network. Example: Desktops and a network printer connect to an access switch. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse switching with routing between IP networks.
- access point
- An access point connects wireless clients to a wired local network. Example: A ceiling AP provides Wi-Fi while Ethernet devices remain connected through a switch. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse an AP with a router; an AP does not have to provide routing.
- modem/ONT
- A modem or optical network terminal provides the provider-facing handoff for a specific internet service. Example: Fiber service terminates at an ONT before reaching the customer router. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse the provider handoff device with the local router/firewall.
- NIC
- A network interface card or controller provides a device's network connection. Example: A desktop's Ethernet NIC negotiates a link with the switch. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse the NIC with the network cable; the NIC is the interface hardware.
- RJ45
- RJ45 commonly refers to the modular connector used with twisted-pair Ethernet cabling. Example: A Cat 6 patch cable uses an 8-position modular plug for Ethernet. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse RJ45-style Ethernet connectors with smaller telephone connectors.
- fiber optic
- Fiber-optic cabling carries data as light through glass or plastic strands. Example: A long building uplink uses fiber to avoid copper distance and interference limits. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse fiber with copper Ethernet; the media and transceivers differ.
- IPv4
- IPv4 is a 32-bit network-layer addressing system written as four decimal octets. Example: A host receives the address 192.168.10.25 on a private LAN. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse an IP address with a MAC address; they operate at different layers.
- subnet mask
- A subnet mask identifies which part of an IPv4 address represents the local network. Example: 255.255.255.0 tells a host which IPv4 addresses are considered local in a /24 network. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse the subnet mask with the default gateway address.
- default gateway
- A default gateway is the router address a host uses when the destination is outside its local subnet. Example: A PC sends internet-bound traffic to 192.168.10.1. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse the gateway with DNS; the gateway forwards packets while DNS resolves names.