GLOSSARY 69
PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect. Advanced,
high-performance local bus that supports multiple peripheral
devices. A local bus is one that is connected directly to the
PC’s central processing unit (CPU).
peer-to-peer network
Networking architecture in which PCs and other devices,
such as printers and fax machines, are connected directly
to one another or to a central point, usually a hub. Unlike a
client/server network, a peer-to-peer network does not use
a server.
server
PC that provides access to resources or services such as files,
printers, fax machines, and e-mail on a client/server network.
Servers may be distinguished by the elements to which they
control access (for example, on a client/server network there
may be a print server, file server, or communications server).
switch
Device that can direct network traffic among several
Ethernet networks.
unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cabling
Most commonly used type of twisted-pair cable.
Twisted-pair cable consists of copper wires surrounded by
an insulator. Two wires are twisted together (the twisting
prevents interference problems) to form a pair, and the pair
forms a circuit that can transmit data. A cable is a bundle of
one or more twisted pairs surrounded by an insulator.
