Appendix C: Glossary
10BaseT
- An Ethernet standard that uses twisted wire pairs.
100BaseTX
- IEEE physical layer specification for 100 Mbps over two pairs of Category 5 UTP or
STP wire.
Adapter -
Printed circuit board that plugs into a PC to add to capabilities or connectivity to a PC.
In a networked environment, a network interface card (NIC) is the typical adapter that allows the
PC or server to connect to the intranet and/or Internet.
Auto-MDI/MDIX
- On a network hub or switch, an auto-MDI/MDIX port automatically senses if it
needs to act as a MDI or MDIX port. The auto-MDI/MDIX capability eliminates the need for
crossover cables.
Auto-negotiate
- To automatically determine the correct settings. The term is often used with
communications and networking. For example, Ethernet 10/100 cards, hubs, and switches can
determine the highest speed of the node they are connected to and adjust their transmission rate
accordingly.
Browser
- A browser is an application program that provides a way to look at and interact with all
the information on the World Wide Web or PC. The word “browser” seems to have originated
prior to the Web as a generic term for user interfaces that let you browse text files online.
Cable Modem
- A device that connects a computer to the cable television network, which in turn
connects to the Internet. Once connected, cable modem users have a continuous connection to
the Internet. Cable modems feature asymmetric transfer rates: around 36 Mbps downstream
(from the Internet to the computer), and from 200 Kbps to 2 Mbps upstream (from the computer to
the Internet).
CAT 5
- ANSI/EIA (American National Standards Institute/Electronic Industries Association)
Standard 568 is one of several standards that specify “categories” (the singular is commonly
referred to as “CAT”) of twisted pair cabling systems (wires, junctions, and connectors) in terms of
the data rates that they can sustain. CAT 5 cable has a maximum throughput of 100 Mbps and is
usually utilized for 100BaseTX networks.
CTS
(
C
lear
T
o
S
end) - An RS-232 signal sent from the receiving station to the transmitting station
that indicates it is ready to accept data.
Data Packet
- One frame in a packet-switched message. Most data communications is based on
dividing the transmitted message into packets. For example, an Ethernet packet can be from 64
to 1518 bytes in length.
Default Gateway
- The routing device used to forward all traffic that is not addressed to a station
within the local subnet.
Download
- To receive a file transmitted over a network. In a communications session, download
means receive, and upload means transmit.
Dynamic IP Address
- An IP address that is automatically assigned to a client station in a
TCP/IP network, typically by a DHCP server. Network devices that serve multiple users, such as
servers and printers, are usually assigned static IP addresses.