Cabletron Systems SFCS-200BX - Manual (Page 179)

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GLOSSARY
VINES (Virtual Network Software) - Banyan’s network operating system
based on UNIX and its protocols.
Virtual Channel Switch - a network element that connects VCLs. It termi-
nates VPCs and translates VCI values. The Virtual Channel Switch is directed
by Control Plane functions and relays the cells of a VC.
Virtual Path Switch - a network element that connects VPLs, it translates VPI
(not VCI) values and is directed by Control Plane functions. The Virtual Path
Switch relays the cells of a Virtual Path.
VPT (Virtual Path Terminator) - a system that unbundles the VCs of a VP for
independent processing of each VC.
VP (Virtual Path) - a unidirectional logical association or bundle of VCs.
VPC (Virtual Path Connection) - a concatenation of VPLs between virtual
path terminators (VPTs). VPCs are unidirectional.
VPDN (Virtual Private Data Network) - a private data communications net-
work built on public switching and transport facilities rather than dedicated
leased facilities such as T1s.
VPI (Virtual Path Identifier) - the address or label of a particular VP.
VPL (Virtual Path Link) - a means of unidirectional transport of ATM cells
between the point where a VPI value is assigned and the point where that
value is translated or removed.
VPN (Virtual Private Network) - a private voice communications network
built on public switching and transport facilities rather than dedicated leased
facilities such as T1s.
VT (Virtual Tributary) - a structure used to carry payloads such as DS1s that
run at significantly lower rates than STS-1s.
WAN (Wide-Area Network) - a network that covers a large geographic area.
X.25 - a well-established data switching and transport method that relies on a
significant amount of processing to ensure reliable transport over metallic
media.