Abbreviation

Name

Description

LAN

Local Area Network

a local computer network for communication between computers; especially a network connecting computers and word processors and other electronic office equipment to create a communication system between offices.

W-LAN

wireless Local Area Network

A wireless LAN is a wireless local area network that uses radio waves as its carrier: where the network connections for end-users are wireless. The main network structure usually uses cables.

WAN

Wide Area Network

Similar to a LAN, but on a larger geographical scale. A WAN can cover an entire country or even the world!

VPN

Virtual Private Network

This creates a secure ‘tunnel’ between the points within the VPN. Only devices with the correct "key" will be able to work within the VPN. The VPN network can be within a company LAN (Local Area Network), but different sites can also be connected over the Internet in a secure way. One common use for VPN is for connecting a remote computer to the corporate network, via e.g. a direct phone line or via the Internet. Read more: Network security

P2P

Peer-to-Peer

A method of file sharing over a network in which individual computers are linked via the Internet or a private network to share programs/files, often illegally. Users download files directly from other users' computers, rather than from a central server.

C/S

Client/Server

A networking system in which one or more file servers (Server) provide services; such as network management, application and centralized data storage for workstations (Clients).