31
Appendix A
Glossary
10BASE-T—IEEE 802.3 UTP Ethernet. Low-cost Level 3 or better UTP wiring affords
100 meters (328 ft.) of point-to-point link segments. UTP uses RJ-45 connectors and
sometimes 50-pin AMP connectors to a patch panel and runs at 10 MHz.
ADDRESS RESOLUTION PROTOCOL (ARP)—The procedures and messages in
any communications protocol which resolve local addresses to those of the network. In
TCP/IP, the protocols for translating between IP addresses and physical addresses.
ASYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER MODE (ATM)—A technology for LAN data
transport that packages the data in short fixed length cells for high-speed transport.
ATM FORUM—An international voluntary organization composed of ATM vendors,
manufacturers, service providers, research organizations and users. Purpose is to
“accelerate the use of ATM products and services through the rapid convergence of
interoperability specifications, promotion of industry cooperation and other activities.”
ATTACHMENT UNIT INTERFACE (AUI)—Connection between a MAU
(transceiver) and a DTE (typically a workstation). Includes a 15-pin D-sub connector
and sometimes a 15-conductor twisted pair cable. Maximum length is 50 meters (164
ft.).
BASEBAND COAXIAL SYSTEM—A system whereby information is directly encoded
and impressed on the coaxial transmission medium. At any point on the medium, only
one information signal at a time can be present without disruption.
BAYONET NUT COUPLE (BNC) CONNECTOR—A 10Base2 thin coax connector
with push-on BNC locking lug that quickly locks into place with a half twist.
BIT RATE (BR)—The rate of data throughput on the medium in bits per second.
Ethernet specifies 10 million bits per second.
BIT TIME—The duration of one bit symbol (1/BR). Ethernet specifies a bit time of 100
ns.
BROADCAST AND UNKNOWN SERVER (BUS)—BUS defines that set of functions
implemented in an ATM network that provide LAN-to-LAN transmission support while
a LAN connection is being established, It also supports LAN broadcast services.
CARRIER SENSE—In a LAN, an ongoing activity of a data station to detect whether
another station is transmitting.
