Glossary
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LINK SEGMENT—The link segment of coaxial cable is a segment which has
no MAU devices but links two LAN devices together such as repeaters.
LINK TEST—In 10BASE-T Ethernet there is a link test function that
validates the UTP link. This consists of a pulse transmitted from point A on one
pair and validated at point B. Point B also transmits a pulse on the second pair
to be validated by point A. These pulses occur during media idle states (in
between packets).
MANAGED MODULE— An intelligent repeater in a department
concentrator chassis that makes management data available to the Master.
MANAGEMENT AGENT—Software that is used to view hub activity and set
hub variables.
MASTER—A repeater in the top-most position in a department concentrator
chassis that contains and downloads the management agent software to
Backup and Slaves. The Master contains the only active image of the
management agent and controls the management functions of the Backup and
Slaves.
MAU—See Medium Attachment Unit
MAU-to-MAU, HUB-to-HUB WIRING—10BASE-T MAU-to-MAU or hub-to-
hub wiring generally requires a crossover cable located somewhere along the
UTP cable run. This may commonly occur at the punch-down block or between
the RJ45 wall receptacle and the workstation.
MAU/TRANSCEIVER—An Ethernet transceiver is a MAU. A 10BASE-T
MAU interfaces the UTP media to an AUI port on a workstation, repeater,
bridge or other Ethernet devices.
MDI/MDI-X—See Medium Dependent Interface
MEDIUM ATTACHMENT UNIT (MAU)—In a LAN, a device used in a data
station to couple the DTE to the transmission medium.
MEDIUM DEPENDENT INTERFACE (MDI)—The mechanical and
electrical interface between the trunk cable medium and the MAU. MDI-X is
another version of the interface that enables like devices to connect, using
different pin-outs, avoiding conflicts that occur when receiving and
transmitting packets use the same pin-out.
MODULE—A single repeater when it is mounted with other repeaters in an
AT-36Cx or AT-36Ex department concentrator chassis.
N-SERIES—A barrel shaped, threaded connector used on 10BASE5 (thick
Ethernet) coaxial cable.
PATCH PANEL—A 10BASE-T patch panel may be between a punch-down
block and UTP workstation. The patch panel generally has a female RJ45
connector on the front for each workstation and a Telco (RJ21) connector on the
back, which are wired to a punch-down block. This provides a convenient way
for the installer or network manager to connect the hub 10BASE-T ports into
the desired building locations.
PHYSICAL MEDIUM ATTACHMENT (PMA)—The portion of the MAU
that contains the functional circuitry.
