Lantronix XPort - Manual (Page 84)

Networking Terms
LAN
Local Area Network, a data communications system consisting of a group of interconnected
computers, sharing applications, data, and peripherals. The geographical area is usually a
building or group of buildings.
Latency
The delay incurred by a switching or bridging device between receiving the frame and forwarding
the frame.
Layer
In networks, layers refer to software protocol levels comprising the architecture, with each layer
performing functions for the layers above it.
Line Speed
Expressed in bps, the maximum rate at which data can reliably be transmitted over a line using
given hardware.
Logical Link
A temporary connection between source and destination nodes, or between two processes on the
same node.
Mbps
Megabits per second.
MIB
Management Information Base, a database of network parameters used by SNMP and CMIP
(Common Management Information Protocol) to monitor and change network device settings. It
provides a logical naming of all information resources on the network that are pertinent to the
network's management.
Multicast
A multicast is a message that is sent out to multiple devices on the network by a host.
Name Server
Software that runs on network hosts charged with translating (or resolving) text-style names into
numeric IP addresses.
Network
An interconnected system of computers that can communicate with each other and share files,
data and resources.
Network Address
Every node on a network has one or more addresses associated with it, including at least one
fixed hardware address such as "ae-34-2c-1d-69-f1" assigned by the device's manufacturer. Most
nodes also have protocol specific addresses assigned by a network manager.
Network Management
Administrative services for managing a network, including configuring and tuning, maintaining
network operation, monitoring network performance, and diagnosing network problems.
B-4 XPort™ User Guide