Overview of Connection Protocols

A data path or circuit between two computers over a phone line, network cable, or other means.

A device usually consisting of a keyboard, a display unit such as a cathode ray tube, and a serial port used for entering and sending data to a computer and displaying any data received from the computer. Terminals are usually connected to a computer with a serial line or some other type of connection. There are many terminal types including VT100, VT102, VT220, and others.

A computer program that provides services to other computer programs (called clients). Often the computer on which a server program runs is also called a server. The term host is often used as a synonym for server.

Telephony API. A standard developed by Intel and Microsoft that manages access to phone lines on a Windows PC. This terminal emulation application uses TAPI to provide phone dialer options. TAPI compliant programs can be running at the same time, using the modem to dial out or receive calls on an "as needed" basis.

The first version of the SSH protocol which provides a way to encrypt network traffic between a client and a server.

The second version of the SSH protocol which provides a way to encrypt network traffic between a client and a server, with a slightly different set of security features than the SSH1 protocol provides.

Telnet is a protocol that provides an interface for communications between clients and servers.

Telnet over SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), a cryptographic communications protocol used to encrypt network traffic over the internet.

The process of converting a data transmission into a secret format that cannot easily be read by unauthorized individuals. See also: decryption.