3Com 2426-PWR - Baseline Switch Plus, User Manual

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90 G
LOSSARY
switches) that cover a relatively small geographic area
(usually not larger than a floor or building). LANs are
characterized by high transmission speeds over short
distances (up to 1000 metres).
Layer 2
Data Link layer in the ISO 7-Layer Data Communications
Protocol. This is related directly to the hardware
interface for the network devices and passes on traffic
based on MAC addresses.
Link Aggregation
See Trunking.
MAC
Media Access Control. A protocol specified by the IEEE
for determining which devices have access to a network
at any one time.
MAC Address
Media Access Control Address. Also called the
hardware, physical or Ethernet address. A layer 2
address associated with a particular network device.
Most devices that connect to a LAN have a MAC
address assigned to them as they are used to identify
other devices in a network. MAC addresses are 6 bytes
long.
Network
A Network is a collection of computers and other
computer equipment that are connected for the
purpose of exchanging information or sharing resources.
Networks vary in size, some are within a single room,
others span continents.
Ping
P acket In ternet G roper. An Internet utility used to
determine whether a particular IP address is online. It is
used to test and debug a network by sending out a
packet and waiting for a response.
Protocol
A set of rules for communication between devices on a
network. The rules dictate format, timing, sequencing
and error control.
RJ-45
A standard connector used to connect Ethernet
networks. The "RJ" stands for "registered jack."