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2Mb connection High speed broadband connection enabling download speeds of 2Mb per second - around 40 times faster than a standard 56k modem.
100Base-T
Standard cabling that connects computers on a network. Has a small square jack similar to that for a telephone. Also known as "Fast Ethernet," this type of networking enables high speed transfer of data between computers.
802.11 and 802.11b
Tech specs for wireless computing. Industry standards for transferring info around a computer network using radio waves.
802.3
Industry defined specification that describes the characteristics of Ethernet (wired) connections.
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Activation
Activation is the process by which your existing phone line becomes enabled to receive data and voice calls simultaneously. Activation takes place at your local phone exchange.
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ADSL
An abbreviation of Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. ADSL is a technology that transforms a standard twisted pair of copper wires telephone line into a high-speed always on, internet connection capable of simultaneously carrying voice and data. It is termed 'asymmetric' because data moves in one direction faster than in the other i.e. data is transmitted faster from the exchange to you rather than from your premises to the exchange.
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Anti-virus software
Protection against malicious computer code usually sent via email but sometimes infecting web site downloads. PCs are particularly vulnerable and you should have anti-virus software installed no matter wish way you connect to the internet.
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ASP
Applications Service Provider. A company that rents access to software and services across the internet.
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Bandwidth
The capacity of your internet connection to transmit and receive data. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits-per-second. Imagine your internet connection is a pipe, the bigger the pipe, the faster the information will flow. Broadband is between 10 and 40 times faster than a 56K dial up modem.
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Broadband
A generic term for high speed digital internet connections.
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Bursty
Bursts of data traffic generated by a computer while online. Web browsing and reading email are 'bursty' activities. Downloading software or a bulky document generates a longer constant demand on bandwidth and is therefore non-bursty. A high number of users can share the same bandwidth with little loss of speed if their data calls are bursty.
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Contention Rate
This describes the maximum number of users sharing the bandwidth on the connection between your local exchange and the Internet Service Provider. A customer with a contention ratio of 20:1 never has to share this bandwidth with more than 19 other users.
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Cookie
Small piece of data sent by a website to enable personalisation and quicker access the next time you visit. On your return, the cookie is read, as the basis for displaying the web pages, and retrieves details like username, account number, previous transactions, etc. stored in the cookie.
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DNS
Domain Name System. The address mapping system used to match numeric internet addresses, e.g. 192.95.543.095 with www. web addresses.
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Domain name
A company's or individual's permanent home on the web. Comes after the @ part of an email address or after www. Essentially, a domain name is your 'real estate' on the web.
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DSLAM
Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer. Kit in a local exchange that aggregates the connections of broadband users into one or more link onto the main internet infrastructure.
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Dynamic IP address
Originally all Internet Protocol addresses were static, but with the growth of the internet it soon became clear there wouldn't be enough to go around. A dynamic IP address changes every time you connect to the internet. Your ISP will have a range of dynamic IP addresses available and you will be allocated any one of these at any time.
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E-business
The process of using Web technology to help businesses streamline processes, improve productivity and increase efficiencies. Interaction with partners, vendors and customers, usually via a company website, but stopping short of online payment facilities.
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E-commerce
Transacting business online via your website. Normally regarded to mean that customers can place orders and pay by securely submitting their credit or debit card details.Includes online display of goods and services, ordering, billing, customer service and all handling of payments and transactions.
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E-marketplace
A web located marketplace that enables companies/individuals to buy and sell goods or services online.
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Encryption
A means of codifying information to prevent unauthorised access. Only those with authorisation and the key to unlock the code can decipher the encrypted data.
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Ethernet
Ethernet is the most widely-installed local area network (LAN) technology. Most new computers have this capability pre-installed or can be upgraded to take advantage of this connection method.
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Extranet
An intranet that is accessible to computers that are not physically part of a company's own private network, but that is not accessible to the general public. For example, to allow vendors and business partners to access a company web site.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions. Documents that answer the most commonly asked questions on a particular subject.
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Firewall
Gatekeeper hardware or software that guards against unauthorised access to your computer via the internet by hackers.
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Flash
Software that web designers use for animation and intro movies.
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FTP
File Transfer Protocol is the standard method by which files are uploaded to or downloaded from web space. Popular software packages for doing this include FTPCute and WS_FTP.
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Gateway
See Router
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Gateway address
The IP address you use when you make a connection outside your immediate network.
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Groupware
Software deployed to support groups of people who work together, but not necessarily in the same place. Groupware links up common activities, such as e-mail and group calendaring, and greatly assists information sharing.
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Installation
Configuring your computer system to the fast lane of the information super highway. There are normally two options available:
Self install (or Wires Only) - User purchases own modem/router and plugs it all in. Quick and saves on the cost of an engineer.
Engineer install - An engineer sets it all up for you with a modem or router supplied by the company and tests the connection.
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Intranet
A private network or web site for internal company or organisation use. Can be tunnelled into by authorised users.
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IP address
Stands for Internet Protocol address, the host computer assigned to you by your Internet Service Provider when you make a connection. A static IP address means your ISP permanently assigns your connection to a particular host computer. IP addresses are numeric, you may have noticed them occasionally in the address bar of your browser. For example, http://212.58.240.32/ is better known as www.bbc.co.uk An internet service called DNS (Domain Name System/Service) translates the request for www.bbc.co.uk into the corresponding IP address.
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ISP
Internet Service Provider. Typically this refers to the company supplying your connectivity, e.g. Freeserve, AOL, etc.
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Kbps
Kilobits per second (1 kilobit per second equals 1,000 bits per second). A measure of data transfer through a modem or on a network.
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LAN
Local Area Network. Normally refers to a network confined to a tightly defined area, usually the same floor or building.
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Login or logon
The method by which you identify yourself to a host computer. This often means typing a user name and password.
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Mbps
Megabits per second. A unit of bandwidth measurement that defines the speed at which information can be transferred through a network or Ethernet cable. One megabyte is roughly equivalent to eight megabits.
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Microfilter
A channel splitter that inserts into the phone socket to prevent noise interference from an ADSL connection.on phone extensions during voice or fax calls.
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NAT
Network Address Translation. A broadband configuration that offers extra security and enables more than one computer to use a single IP address (your location on the internet).
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Network adapter
Also known as a "network interface card" (NIC). An expansion card or other device used to provide network access to a computer, printer, or other device.
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Non-NAT
If you need someone or something (such as a server) that is outside of your network to connect to a machine inside your network, then you need non-NAT. The non-NAT option offers extra IP addresses and routes data to specific addresses.
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Packet
A unit of information transmitted as a whole from one device to another on a network.
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Peer-to-peer network
A network of two or more computers that communicate without using a central server. This lack of reliance on a server differentiates a peer-to-peer network from a client/server network.
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PING
A method of bouncing a signal to a computer's IP address to check if it is online and to measure the response time. Rather like radar or echo location.
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Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line
A broadband technology which extends the outer reach of copperwire DSL from 3.5 km to 5.5 km distant from a DSL-enabled exchange.
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Remote working
The ability to access your own computer securely across the internet. Software such as PC Anywhere and LapLink, or service provider, GoToMyPC.com enable communication between machines. Requires your machine to be at a static IP address.
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RJ-11 connector
Cable connection for joining a phone line to a modem.
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RJ-45 connector
Small square-ish plug found at the ends of Ethernet cables.
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Router-hub
A device that sits between your computer and the internet and determines where to send your online data. Necessary when more than one computer is sharing a connection. Also known as a gateway or base station.
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Satellite broadband
Broadband connectivity supplied from a satellite located in geostationary orbit.
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SDSL
Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line, a broadband variant that signifies equal or near equal bandwidth up and downstream.
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Static IP address
A static Internet Protocol address that doesn't change every time you log on to the Internet. A static IP address is required to run your own email server (SMTP), Virtual Private Network or remote communications applications.
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Two way satellite
Broadband connection whereby the upstream (outbound) and the downstream (inbound) data are sent from and arrive via a satellite. The connection is usually asymmetric, i.e. the download speed is faster than the upload speed. One way satellite is when the upstream traffic is routed terrestrially, normally via a dial up modem.
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Unified Messaging
Provides one centralised in-box for all voice, email and fax messages. All message types can be managed using familiar packages such as Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes.
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Video conferencing
Real time video to allow multiple users to broadcast and receive sound and vision simultaneously.
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Virtual Server
Web server that hosts a number of sites simultaneously, each with a unique domain name and IP address.
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Virtual Private Network
Virtual Private Network. This allows a secure, encrypted connection between two points over the Internet.
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Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Using broadband to send voice calls over the internet. The voice signals are broken down into packets and reassembled at the receiving end.
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WAN
Three letter acronym (TLA) meaning "Wide Area Network." A geographically widespread network that might include many linked local area networks.
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WEP
Three Letter Acronym standing for "Wired Equivalent Privacy" .WEP sometimes also goes under the alias of "wireless security." Essentially wireless network encryption to protect data transmitted over wireless networks.
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Wi-Fi
Commonly used to signify the 802.11b standard - a form of wireless networking. Wireless-Fidelty allows the connection of two or more computers without the need for physical cabling between them. The most common forms of WiFi are 80211.b (capable of up to 11 Mb/Sec) and 802.11.g (capable of up to54 Mb/Sec).
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Wireless
The use of radio signals to connect computers without cables whether it be a computer and a mouse or a network of computers that connect to the internet.
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Wireless access point
A device that exchanges data between wireless computers or between wireless computers and wired computers on a network.
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Wireless network name
Single identity for a group of computers that link together to form a wireless network.
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Wireless security
See WEP.
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Wireless WAN
Companies with more than one building on a campus or in close proximity in a city centre can use Wi-Fi or other wireless technology to build 'bridges' between buildings.
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Wires Only
See installation.
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WLAN
Wireless local area network. A network that exclusively relies on wireless technology for device connections.
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