User's Manual

GLOSSARY 91
MAC Address Media Access Control Address. Also called the hardware or physical address.
A layer 2 address associated with a particular network device. Most devices
that connect to a LAN have a MAC address assigned to them as they are used
to identify other devices in a network. MAC addresses are 6 bytes long.
Network A Network is a collection of computers and other computer equipment that are
connected for the purpose of exchanging information or sharing resources.
Networks vary in size, some are within a single room, others span continents.
Network Interface Card
(NIC)
A circuit board installed into a piece of computing equipment, for example, a
computer, that enables you to connect it to the network. A NIC is also known
as an adapter or adapter card.
Protocol A set of rules for communication between devices on a network. The rules
dictate format, timing, sequencing and error control.
RJ-45 A standard connector used to connect Ethernet networks. The “RJ” stands for
“registered jack”.
Server A computer in a network that is shared by multiple end stations. Servers
provide end stations with access to shared network services such as computer
files and printer queues.
SSID Service Set Identifier. Some vendors of wireless products use SSID
interchangeably with ESSID.
Subnet Address An extension of the IP addressing scheme that allows a site to use a single IP
network address for multiple physical networks.
Subnet mask A subnet mask, which may be a part of the TCP/IP information provided by
your ISP, is a set of four numbers configured like an IP address. It is used to
create IP address numbers used only within a particular network (as opposed
to valid IP address numbers recognized by the Internet, which must assigned
by InterNIC).
Subnets A network that is a component of a larger network.
Switch A device that interconnects several LANs to form a single logical LAN that
comprises of several LAN segments. Switches are similar to bridges, in that