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• telecommunications (telecom)

  Telecommunications, also known as telecom, is the exchange of information over significant distances by electronic means and refers to all types of voice, data and video transmission. Continue Reading

• remote infrastructure management

  Remote infrastructure management, or RIM, is a comprehensive approach to handling and overseeing an organization's IT infrastructure, systems and services from a remote location. Continue Reading

• Use Angry IP Scanner to audit the network

  Angry IP Scanner provides a network scanner alternative to Nmap that is simple, user-friendly and versatile across OSes. Scan types include ping scans, UDP scans and TCP scans. Continue Reading

• What's the difference between Wi-Fi and the internet?

  The internet connects users to the outside world. Wi-Fi connects devices within a business, which then connect to other network devices and out to the internet. Continue Reading

• An introduction to quantum networks and how they work

  Quantum networks hold potential for faster and more secure communication. But true quantum networks are still experimental and require more engineering and scientific research. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • What is network bandwidth and how is it measured?
  • What is telematics?
  • What is multi-user MIMO?
  • What is the domain name system (DNS)?

  • What is an SD-branch?
  • What is attenuation?
  • What is a coaxial cable?
  • What is a network management system?

  View All Definitions

• Networking vs. telecom: What's the difference?

  Networking describes how devices interconnect to share resources with each other. Telecom, which includes networking, broadly refers to the exchange of data across long distances.Continue Reading

• An introduction to Git for network engineers

  Git can be a useful tool for network engineers who manage complex infrastructure, especially as networking increasingly overlaps with software, automation and DevOps.Continue Reading

• An introduction to smartNICs and their benefits

  SmartNICs offload packet processing tasks from server CPUs, freeing up resources for application performance. They can run packet capture and load balancing, among other tasks.Continue Reading

• Network engineer vs. software engineer: What's the difference?

  Despite potential overlaps in software skills, the roles of network engineers and software engineers vary in terms of skill sets, salaries, certifications and more.Continue Reading

• What are the elements of modern network security architecture?

  Modern network security is a mix of several elements, including secure access service edge, virtualization technologies, segmentation and zero-trust models.Continue Reading

• network fabric

  'Network fabric' is a general term used to describe underlying data network infrastructure as a whole.Continue Reading

• Traditional networks vs. IoT networks: What's the difference?

  An enterprise network is a system of interconnected devices that share information, while IoT is a system of devices connected to the internet that provides key analytics.Continue Reading

• loose coupling

  Loose coupling is an approach to interconnecting the components in a system, network or software application so that those components, also called elements, depend on each other to the least extent practicable.Continue Reading

• 10 edge computing quiz questions

  Edge computing isn't new, but it has grown in popularity due to 5G and the influx of IoT devices. This quiz covers edge computing basics, such as pros, cons and differentiators.Continue Reading

• logical network

  A logical network is a software-defined network topology or routing that is often different than the physical network.Continue Reading

• peer-to-peer (P2P)

  Peer-to-peer (P2P) is a decentralized communications model in which each party has the same capabilities and either party can initiate a communication session.Continue Reading

• Evaluate top 5G fixed wireless access benefits

  Fixed wireless access, when enabled by 5G, makes wireless network connectivity accessible to users at affordable rates. Learn the benefits FWA brings to operators and enterprises.Continue Reading

• CAPWAP (Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points)

  CAPWAP (Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points) is a protocol that enables an access controller to manage a collection of wireless termination points.Continue Reading

• network performance monitoring (NPM)

  Network performance monitoring (NPM) is the process of measuring and monitoring the quality of service of a network.Continue Reading

• infrared radiation (IR)

  Infrared radiation (IR), sometimes referred to simply as infrared, is a region of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum where wavelengths range from about 700 nm to 1 mm.Continue Reading

• How to interact with network APIs using cURL, Postman tools

  Network engineers can use cURL and Postman tools to work with network APIs. Use cases include getting interface information and manipulating device configuration data.Continue Reading

• Modular network design benefits and approaches

  Modular network design is a strategic way for enterprises to group network building blocks in order to streamline network maintenance, additions and troubleshooting.Continue Reading

• An overview of 802.1X authentication methods and EAP

  Enterprises use 802.1X authentication to manage their wireless LANs, and that process relies on the Extensible Authentication Protocol and its various types.Continue Reading

• CSU/DSU (Channel Service Unit/Data Service Unit)

  A CSU/DSU (Channel Service Unit/Data Service Unit) is a hardware device about the size of a modem. It converts a digital data frame from local area network (LAN) communication technology into a frame appropriate for a wide area network (WAN) and ...Continue Reading

• data streaming

  Data streaming is the continuous transfer of data from one or more sources at a steady, high speed for processing into specific outputs.Continue Reading

• Network Configuration Protocol (NETCONF)

  The Network Configuration Protocol (NETCONF) is an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) network management protocol that provides a secure mechanism for installing, manipulating and deleting the configuration data on a network device such as a ...Continue Reading

• geo-blocking

  Geo-blocking is blocking something based on its location.Continue Reading

• RS-232C

  RS-232C is one of the earlier versions of the long-established standard RS-232, which defines a physical interface for relatively low-speed serial data communication between computers and related devices.Continue Reading

• frequency band

  In telecommunications, a frequency band -- sometimes called a band -- refers to a specific range of frequencies in the electromagnetic frequency spectrum assigned to certain applications.Continue Reading

• operational support system (OSS)

  An operational support system (OSS) is a set of programs that helps a communications service provider monitor, control, analyze and manage a telephone or computer network.Continue Reading

• Python interpreter vs. IDE: What network engineers should know

  When using Python for network automation, network engineers often work with interpreters and integrated development environment tools to test modules and debug code.Continue Reading

• mutual exclusion (mutex)

  In computer programming, a mutual exclusion (mutex) is a program object that prevents multiple threads from accessing the same shared resource simultaneously.Continue Reading

• fault management

  Fault management is the component of network management that detects, isolates and fixes problems.Continue Reading

• graceful degradation

  Graceful degradation is the ability of a computer, machine, electronic system or network to maintain limited functionality even when a large portion of it has been destroyed or rendered inoperative.Continue Reading

• 7 characteristics of next-generation networking

  Network modernization has become important for many organizations. Discover which technologies -- such as SASE, AI, automation and more -- can help build next-generation networks.Continue Reading

• Synchronous Optical Network (SONET)

  Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) is a North American standard for synchronous data transmission over optical fibers.Continue Reading

• SDN controller (software-defined networking controller)

  A software-defined networking controller is an application in SDN architecture that manages flow control for improved network management and application performance.Continue Reading

• fax

  A fax -- short for 'facsimile' and sometimes called 'telecopying' -- is the telephonic transmission of scanned-in printed material, including text or images.Continue Reading

• Clos network

  A Clos network is a type of nonblocking, multistage switching network used today in large-scale data center switching fabrics.Continue Reading

• collision in networking

  In a half-duplex Ethernet network, a collision is the result of two devices on the same Ethernet network attempting to transmit data at the same time.Continue Reading

• keystone jack

  A keystone jack is a female connector used in audio, video and data communications. It serves as a receptacle for a matching plug, which is a male connector of the same type as the jack.Continue Reading

• encapsulation (object-orientated programming)

  In object-oriented programming (OOP), encapsulation is the practice of bundling related data into a structured unit, along with the methods used to work with that data.Continue Reading

• baseband

  Baseband in the transmission of communications signals means only one path is available to send and receive digital signals between devices.Continue Reading

• broadband

  Broadband refers to telecommunications in which a wide band of frequencies is available to transmit information.Continue Reading

• fiber to the home (FTTH)

  Fiber to the home (FTTH), also called fiber to the premises (FTTP), is the installation and use of optical fiber from a central point to individual buildings to provide high-speed internet access.Continue Reading

• Manchester encoding

  In data transmission, Manchester encoding is a form of digital encoding in which a data bit's state -- 0 or 1 -- is represented by the transition from one voltage level to another.Continue Reading

• nslookup

  Nslookup is the name of a program that lets users enter a host name and find out the corresponding IP address or domain name system (DNS) record.Continue Reading

• CDN (content delivery network)

  A CDN (content delivery network), also called a content distribution network, is a group of geographically distributed and interconnected servers.Continue Reading

• transport layer

  The transport layer is Layer 4 of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) communications model. It is responsible for ensuring that the data packets arrive accurately and reliably between sender and receiver.Continue Reading

• session layer

  The session layer is Layer 5 of the OSI communications model. It is the long-lived logical connection that persists between endpoints over time.Continue Reading

• HAProxy

  HAProxy is a high-performance, open source load balancer and reverse proxy for TCP and HTTP applications.Continue Reading

• ACK (acknowledgement)

  In some digital communication protocols, ACK -- short for 'acknowledgement' -- refers to a signal that a device sends to indicate that data has been received successfully.Continue Reading

• network service provider (NSP)

  A network service provider (NSP) is a company that owns, operates and sells access to internet backbone infrastructure and services.Continue Reading

• Self-healing networks goals, benefits and how they work

  With help from automation and AI, self-healing networks promise to detect, remediate and even predict network problems. But can these systems be trusted?Continue Reading

• unshielded twisted pair (UTP)

  Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is a ubiquitous type of copper cabling used in telephone wiring and local area networks (LANs).Continue Reading

• Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)

  Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a switching mechanism used in wide area networks (WANs).Continue Reading

• WAN optimization (WAN acceleration)

  WAN optimization -- also known as WAN acceleration -- is a collection of technologies and techniques used to improve the efficiency of data transfer across a wide area network (WAN) between organizations' centralized data centers and their remote ...Continue Reading

• computer network

  A computer network is a group of interconnected nodes or computing devices that exchange data and resources with each other.Continue Reading

• client-server

  Client-server is a relationship in which one program, the client, requests a service or resource from another program, the server.Continue Reading

• voice over LTE (VoLTE)

  Voice over LTE (VoLTE) is a digital packet technology that uses 4G LTE networks to route voice traffic and transmit data.Continue Reading

• ONOS (Open Network Operating System)

  Open Network Operating System (ONOS) is an OS designed to help network service providers build carrier-grade software-defined networks architected for high scalability, availability and performance.Continue Reading

• How to build an SD-WAN RFP to evaluate vendors

  There are key questions that belong in your SD-WAN request for proposal. Use them to better assess vendor features and capabilities, architecture, cost savings and PoCs.Continue Reading

• How network perimeters secure enterprise networks

  Network perimeters serve as essential network security to block unwanted traffic. Find out how they differ from the network edge and how they help secure enterprise networks.Continue Reading

• packet filtering

  Packet filtering is the process of passing or blocking data packets at a network interface by a firewall based on source and destination addresses, ports or protocols.Continue Reading

• Configure NIC teaming in Windows Server

  NIC teaming maximizes network bandwidth and provides redundancy benefits. These steps guide users through NIC teaming configuration in Windows Server with GUI and PowerShell.Continue Reading

• WAN (wide area network)

  A wide area network (WAN) is a geographically distributed private telecommunications network that interconnects multiple local area networks (LANs).Continue Reading

• White box networking use cases and how to get started

  Rising cloud costs have prompted organizations to consider white box switches to lower costs and simplify network management. Here's what to know about white box networking.Continue Reading

• network operating system (NOS)

  A network operating system (NOS) is a computer operating system (OS) that's designed primarily to support workstations, PCs and, in some instances, older terminals that are connected on a local area network (LAN).Continue Reading

• network protocol

  A network protocol is a set of established rules that specify how to format, send and receive data so that computer network endpoints, including computers, servers, routers and virtual machines, can communicate despite differences in their ...Continue Reading

• physical layer

  The physical layer is the first and lowest layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) communications model.Continue Reading

• network switch

  A network switch connects devices in a network to each other, enabling them to talk by exchanging data packets. Switches can be hardware devices that manage physical networks or software-based virtual devices.Continue Reading

• virtual server

  A virtual server, also known as a virtual machine (VM), is a partitioned space inside a real server and is transparent to users, replicating the functionality of a dedicated physical server.Continue Reading

• 9 practice questions on twisted-pair network cables

  Take this practice quiz on twisted-pair cables, sampled from 'Networking Essentials: A CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Textbook,' to test your understanding for the certification exam.Continue Reading

• An introduction to twisted-pair cable wiring

  This excerpt from 'Networking Essentials: A CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Textbook' provides an overview of twisted-pair network cables and acts as a study tool for the exam.Continue Reading

• megahertz (MHz)

  Megahertz (MHz) is a unit multiplier that represents one million hertz (106 Hz). Hertz is the standard unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI).Continue Reading

• IEEE 802 wireless standards

  IEEE 802 is a collection of networking standards that cover the physical and data link layer specifications for technologies such as Ethernet and wireless.Continue Reading

• gigabit (Gb)

  In data communications, a gigabit (Gb) is 1 billion bits, or 1,000,000,000 (that is, 10^9) bits. It's commonly used for measuring the amount of data that is transferred in a second between two telecommunication points.Continue Reading

• presentation layer

  The presentation layer resides at Layer 6 of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) communications model and ensures that communications that pass through it are in the appropriate form for the recipient application.Continue Reading

• campus network

  A campus network is a proprietary local area network (LAN) or set of interconnected LANs serving a corporation, government agency, university or similar organization.Continue Reading

• load balancing

  Load balancing is a technique used to distribute network traffic across a pool of servers known as a server farm.Continue Reading

• NOC vs. data center: What's the difference?

  Network operations centers and data centers are two facilities organizations use to store IT devices and manage operations. But they differ significantly in terms of purpose and operations.Continue Reading

• How to use Nmap to scan a network for documentation

  Nmap might be more common for security tasks, but it's also useful for network documentation and inventory. Follow these best practices to make the most of Nmap scan results.Continue Reading

• How to set up a business Wi-Fi network

  A Wi-Fi network is a business necessity, but setting it up takes skill and effective troubleshooting. Learn how to make Wi-Fi work and keep it running smoothly.Continue Reading

• Wireless security: WEP, WPA, WPA2 and WPA3 differences

  As wireless networks have evolved, so have the protocols for securing them. Get an overview of WLAN security standards, and learn the differences among WEP, WPA, WPA2 and WPA3.Continue Reading

• routing table

  A routing table is a set of rules, often viewed in table format, that's used to determine where data packets traveling over an Internet Protocol (IP) network will be directed.Continue Reading

• How to set up backup internet connections for home offices

  Reliable connectivity and secure access are must-haves for employees working from home. Here are ideas to consider when designing backup internet connections for home offices.Continue Reading

• control plane (CP)

  The control plane is the part of a network that carries signaling traffic and is responsible for network routing.Continue Reading

• 3 types of wireless site surveys and how to conduct them

  Network teams can avoid signal coverage issues by performing different wireless site surveys as they evaluate new spaces, set up sites and operate the network.Continue Reading

• What is the difference between WLAN and Wi-Fi?

  Although the terms WLAN and Wi-Fi are used interchangeably, the two wireless technologies differ. Wireless LAN uses radio technology to connect nodes, while Wi-Fi is a type of WLAN.Continue Reading

• IPv4 vs. IPv6: What's the difference?

  IPv4 and IPv6 are two forms of IP addresses, but they differ in length and style. Compare the two, and find out why organizations might implement one over the other.Continue Reading

• CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service)

  Citizens Broadband Radio Service, or CBRS, is the set of operational rules given to a slice of the shared wireless spectrum and the technologies used in that spectrum.Continue Reading

• Wireless access point vs. router: What's the difference?

  The choice of a wireless access point vs. a router for wireless network connectivity depends on the physical size of the network, needs of the organization and the number of users.Continue Reading

• CBRS vs. Wi-Fi: What's the difference?

  Citizens Broadband Radio Service enables private LTE networks and supports enterprise WAN deployments. But that doesn't mean Wi-Fi is going away anytime soon.Continue Reading

• VPN vs. zero trust vs. SDP: What's the difference?

  For strong network security, many vendors say VPNs don't cut it anymore. Enter the zero-trust security model and SDPs.Continue Reading

• Wi-Fi 7

  Wi-Fi 7 is the pending 802.11be standard under development by IEEE.Continue Reading

• What is zero-trust network access? ZTNA basics explained

  Zero-trust network access is touted as the solution to replace the VPN. As the potential future of network security, learn more about ZTNA, including its benefits and challenges.Continue Reading

• network security

  Network security encompasses all the steps taken to protect the integrity of a computer network and the data within it.Continue Reading

• How to build a zero-trust network in 4 steps

  While network teams are responsible for deploying the elements of a zero-trust network, security teams should also be involved in developing the overall zero-trust framework.Continue Reading

• Wi-Fi 6E

  Wi-Fi 6E is one variant of the 802.11ax standard.Continue Reading

• microsegmentation

  Microsegmentation is a security technique that splits a network into definable zones and uses policies to dictate how data and applications within those zones can be accessed and controlled.Continue Reading