Understanding Key Networking Terms and Concepts
Backed Up: ‘To back something up’ means to copy and save/store on a different machine all the data, files, settings, and applications of a computer or server. In most companies, it is common to ‘back up’ all the data on servers every day. This is done to ensure that no data (or little) is lost if there is a problem or failure of a server. Most of this data is stored/saved on servers that are dedicated to doing ‘backups’ and are called ‘backup servers’. ‘To back up’ is a transitive phrasal verb (it has an object), e.g., ‘they have backed the servers up’. In Spanish: “hacer una copia de seguridad”.
Server: A ‘server’ is a powerful computer on a computer network that is dedicated to performing one type of activity or function that other computers use. In a computer network in an office/company, there are normally many ‘servers’ that perform different functions. For example, a ‘file server’ stores all the files of the staff’s computers on the network, an ‘application server’ runs an application that the staff uses on their computers, and a ‘print server’ is dedicated to connecting the computers to the printers on the network. In Spanish: “servidor”.
Switch: A ‘switch’ is a device/machine that is used to connect all the computers, printers, servers, etc., on a computer network or LAN (local area network) together, so they can transfer/move data between each other. All the Ethernet cables (that transport data) from the computers, servers, printers, etc., on a network/LAN are directly connected to a ‘switch’. The ‘switch’ remembers the different addresses of the computers or servers and sends the data to the correct one. For example, if you want to open a Word document on a server, your computer sends a request to connect/open it. This request reaches the ‘switch’, which reads the request (which contains the address of the server) and then sends it to the actual server. A ‘hub’ performs a similar function to a ‘switch’, but is less efficient. In Spanish: “conmutador de red”.
LAN: ‘LAN’ is an abbreviation of ‘local area network’. This is a type of computer network (where different computers, servers, printers, etc., are connected together) that is used in a small geographical location, e.g., a building, office, school, etc. Another type of computer network is WAN, which is an abbreviation of ‘wide area network’, which can cover a country or even the world, e.g., the internet or a multinational company’s computer network. In Spanish: “LAN”.
Software:
(noun) ‘Software’ refers to the objects/things in information technology that cannot be physically touched with your hand that perform/do functions and activities (e.g., computer applications, programs, operating systems). Everything that is physical (can be touched with your hand) is called ‘hardware’, e.g., ‘computers, mobile phones, servers, hard drives, etc.’. ‘Software’ can also be used as an adjective, e.g., ‘there is a software fault; the file data has been corrupted’. In Spanish: “software”.
Local Drive:
(noun) A ‘local drive’ means the ‘hard drive’ or ‘hard disk’ of a computer. It’s the place on a computer where applications, data, or files are stored or saved on the actual computer. Applications, data, or files are not always stored on the ‘local drive’ of the actual computer, but on a server on the network/LAN. This is called a ‘network drive’. In Spanish: “unidad local”.
Packets:
(noun) When data (like an email, web page, update, etc.) is sent/transferred from one computer (or server) to another through a network, it is sent not whole (all together) but separated into small parts. These small parts or chunks are called ‘packets’. When these data ‘packets’ arrive at the computer or server, they are reassembled or joined back together, so you see the whole web page, etc. The reason data is separated into ‘packets’ when it travels on a network is that it is quicker and more efficient for the network to move it like this. In Spanish: “paquetes”.
Network Drive:
(noun) A ‘network drive’ is also called a ‘remote drive’. It is a place on a server or something connected to a server on a computer network. ‘Network drives’ are very common in companies because it not only means that you can access these files or data from more than just one computer, but because it is less likely that you’ll lose the file (they are backed up every day) than if it is stored on the computer’s ‘hard/local drive’. ‘Network drives’ are commonly used for ‘shared folders’, where a department or a team has access to the same files. In Spanish: “unidad de red”.
Firewall:
(noun) A ‘firewall’ can either be software (an application) or hardware (a dedicated machine/device) that controls what data (emails, web pages, updates, etc.) can enter the LAN (local area network) from outside. It is normally configured/set to stop viruses or restrict access to certain types of websites (e.g., sports). On a LAN, the ‘firewall’ is normally a piece of software (an application) on the router (the device/machine where all data enters and leaves from the LAN). In Spanish: “barrera de control de accesos”.
Workstations:
(noun) A ‘workstation’ is basically a computer in a work/office environment that is connected to a network (LAN). It is a technical term and is generally only used in IT departments. It is more common to say ‘computer’ than ‘workstation’. In Spanish: “estación de trabajo”.
IP Address:
(noun) Every computer, server, smartphone, or printer that is connected to the internet or a computer network has a unique ‘IP address’. An ‘IP address’ is basically a computer version of a house address. It is used so that data (emails, updates, etc.) can be directly sent to it without the data getting lost on its journey. An ‘IP address’ is made of four groups of numbers (e.g., ‘72.012.0.209’). In addition to having an ‘IP address’, the machines/devices on a LAN or computer network have an additional type of network address called a ‘MAC address’. In Spanish: “dirección IP”.