Glossary
At Charter Business, we provide you with the best services available. Our account
executives, service representatives and, support staff are committed to providing
you with knowledge-based solutions for your business needs. Don’t hesitate to contact
us whenever you have questions or need assistance. The following glossary of terms
has been provided to enable better communication.
Coaxial Cable
A type of wire that consists of a center wire surrounded by insulation and then
a grounded shield of braided wire. The shield minimizes electrical and radio frequency
interference.
DNS
Domain name system (or service or server) is an internet service that translates
domain names into numeric IP addresses. It is a worldwide network of servers that
maintains a distributed, shared database, mapping the name and corresponding IP
address of every publicly accessible device on the internet.
DOCSIS
DOCSIS, or data over cable service interface specification, defines interface standards
for cable modems and supporting equipment.
Domain Name
A domain is the text name corresponding to the numeric IP address of a computer
on the internet. For example, in the URL http://www.Charter-Business.com/ProductsAndServices.aspx,
the domain name is Charter-Business.com. Every domain name has a suffix that indicates
which top-level domain (TLD) it belongs to, such as .gov, .edu, .org, and .com.
Because the internet is based on IP addresses, rather than on domain names, every
web server requires a domain name system (DNS) server to translate domain names
into IP addresses.
Dynamic IP
An IP address that changes. See IP and Static IP/Dynamic IP.
Email Server
Often referred to as “mail server,” an email server is a computer within your network
that works as your virtual post office. A mail server usually includes a database
of user accounts that the mail server recognizes and handles within the network.
FTP
File transfer protocol is a protocol for exchanging files over the internet. FTP
works in the same way as HTTP for transferring web pages from a server to a browser,
and SMTP for transferring email. Like these technologies, FTP uses the internet’s
TCP/IP protocols to enable data transfer.
Host
A computer that is connected to a TCP/IP network, including the internet. Each host
has a unique IP address.
HTTP
Hyper text transfer protocol. The communication protocol that defines how web documents
are requested and delivered over the internet.
ICANN
Internet corporation for assigned names and numbers.
IP
Internet protocol (IP) specifies the format of packets (a piece of a message containing
a destination address) and the addressing scheme. Most networks combine IP with
TCP (transmission control protocol), which establishes a virtual connection between
a destination and a source. IP by itself is something like the postal system. It
allows you to address a package and drop it in the system, but there’s no direct
link between you and the recipient. TCP/IP, on the other hand, establishes a connection
between two hosts so that they can send messages back and forth for a period of
time.
IP Address
An identifying number for a computer or device on an IP network; messages are delivered
to the destination’s IP address. Connecting a private network to the internet requires
using registered IP addresses (called internet addresses) to avoid duplicates.
Static/Dynamic IP
Static IP addresses do not change; dynamic addresses do change (although the domain
name stays the same). With a dynamic IP address, the need for change is determined
by the system’s DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol) server configuration;
it is often beneficial to large network administrators. Static IP addresses are
most advantageous for customers who use certain types of VPN software or who are
running a server on-site.
ISP
An internet service provider is a company that provides access to the internet.
The ISP provides the software and information you need so that, equipped with a
modem, you can log on to the internet, browse the World Wide Web and USENET (a worldwide
bulletin board system), and send and receive email.
Internet
A global network connecting millions of computers in more than 100 countries. The
internet is decentralized, and each internet computer, called a host, is independent.
The internet is not synonymous with World Wide Web.
LAN/WAN
A computer network. Local-area networks are confined to a single building or group
of buildings. However, one LAN can be connected to other LANs over any distance.
A system of LANs connected in this way is called a wide-area network (WAN).
Modem
A modulator-demodulator (modem) is a device that enables a computer to transmit
data over telephone or cable lines. Computer information is stored digitally, but
transmitted information is transmitted in the form of analog waves. A modem converts
information between the two forms.
Registering a Domain Name
The only way to register and start using a domain name is to use the services of
a domain name registrar. The domain name industry is regulated and overseen by ICANN,
the organization that is responsible for certifying companies as domain name registrars.
Only a domain name registrar is permitted to access and modify the master database
of domain names maintained by InterNIC.
Router
A device that forwards data packets along networks (e.g., between a LAN and its
ISP’s network). Routers are located where two or more networks connect.
Server
A computer or device on a network that manages network resources.
SMTP
Simple mail transfer protocol. The internet standard protocol for transferring electronic
mail messages from one computer to another. SMTP specifies how two mail systems
interact and the format of control messages they exchange to transfer mail.
TCP/IP
Transmission control protocol. See IP.
URL
Uniform resource locator, the global address of documents and resources on the World
Wide Web. The first part of the address (such as http:// or ftp://), indicates what
protocol to use. The second part
(Charter-Business.com) specifies
the IP address or the domain name.
VPN
Virtual private network, a private data network that makes use of the public telecommunication
infrastructure, maintaining privacy through the use of a tunneling protocol and
security procedures. The goal of a VPN is to provide the same capabilities of a
private network at a much lower cost by using the shared public infrastructure.
World Wide Web A system of internet servers that supports specially
formatted documents.