MBR L13 – User’s Guide
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Client Any computer or program that connects to, or requests the services of, another computer or program on a
network. For a local area network or the Internet, a client is a computer that uses shared network resources provided
by a server.
Client/server network A network of two or more computers that rely on a central server to mediate the connections
or provide additional system resources. This dependence on a server differentiating a client/server network from a
peer-to-peer network.
Computer name A name that uniquely identifies a computer on the network so that all its shared resources can be
accessed by other computers on the network. One computer name cannot be the same as any other computer or
domain name on the network.
Crossover cable A type of cable that facilitates network communications. A crossover cable is a cable that is used to
interconnect two computers by "crossing over" (reversing) their respective pin contacts.
DHCP Acronym for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. A TCP/IP protocol that automatically assigns temporary IP
addresses to computers on a local area network (LAN). L13 supports the use of DHCP. You can use DHCP to share one
Internet connection with multiple computers on a network.
Dial-up connection An Internet connection of limited duration that uses a public telephone network rather than a
dedicated circuit or some other type of private network.
DMZ Acronym for demilitarized zone. A collection of devices and subnets placed between a private network and the
Internet to help protect the private network from unauthorized Internet users.
DNS Acronym for Domain Name System. A data query service chiefly used on the Internet for translating host names
into Internet addresses. The DNS database maps DNS domain names to IP addresses so that users can locate
computers and services through user-friendly names.
Domain In a networked computer environment, a collection of computers that share a common domain database and
security policy. A domain is administered as a unit with common rules and procedures and each domain has a unique
name.
Domain name An address of a network connection that identifies the owner of that address in a hierarchical format:
server.organization.type. For example, http://www.whitehouse.gov identifies the Web server at the WhiteHouse,
which is part of the U.S. government.
Drive An area of storage that is formatted with a file system and has a drive letter. The storage can be a floppy disk
(which is often represented by drive A), a hard disk (usually drive C), a CD-ROM (usually drive D), or another type of
disk. You can view the contents of a drive by clicking the drives icon in Windows Explorer or My Computer. Drive C
(also known as the hard disk), contains the computers operating system and the programs that have been installed on
the computer. It also has the capacity to store many of the files and folders that you create.
Driver Within a networking context, a device that mediates communication between a computer and a network
adapter installed on that computer.
DSL Acronym for Digital Subscriber Line. A constant, high-speed digital connection to the Internet that uses standard
copper telephone wires.
DSL modem A device that enables a broadband connection to access the Internet. DSL modems rely on telephone
lines that operate at DSL speeds.
Duplex A mode of connection. Full-duplex transmission allows for the simultaneous transfer of information between
the sender and the receiver. Half-duplex transmission allows for the transfer of information in only one direction at a
time.
Dynamic IP address The IP address assigned (using the DHCP protocol) to a device that requires it. A dynamic IP
address can also be assigned to a gateway or router by an ISP.
