Technical data

InterNIC Registration Services
The Internet Network Information Center; organization that provides the Internet
community with registration, directory, database, and information services.
I/O status block (IOSB)
A data structure associated with the $QIO system service. The IOSB holds
information about how the I/O request completes.
IP
See Internet Protocol.
IP address
An address that identifies the connection between the network controller of a
node using TCP/IP and the network cable. The 32-bit address is composed of two
parts: network number and host number.
IP datagram
The basic unit of information passed across the Internet; contains source and
destination addresses, the data, and fields that define the length of the datagram,
the header checksum, and flags indicating whether the datagram can be (or has
been) fragmented. An IP datagram is to the Internet what a hardware packet is to
aphysicalnetwork. See also datagram.
IP forwarding
A configurable kernel option that controls whether a host forwards IP datagrams.
Generally, hosts do not forward IP datagrams.
IP trailer protocol
A protocol in which the protocol header follows the data.
KA9Q
A popular implementation of TCP/IP and associated protocols for amateur radio
systems.
Kbps
See kilobits per second.
kernel
The software that provides the standard API for application programs. Generally
speaking, the kernel embodies the policy and structure of an operating system. In
a narrower sense, the kernel provides a programmatic interface to any hardware
resourcesavailable.InaUNIXsystem,thekernelisaprogramthatcontainsthe
device drivers, the memory management routines, the scheduler, and system calls;
always running while the system is operating.
kilobits per second (Kbps or Kb/s)
The measure of data transmission rate.
LAN
See local area network.
layer
(1) The grouping of related communication functions that provide a well-defined
service to a client independently of the protocols and other means used to provide
it. (2) A software protocol levels that make up network architectures; each layer
performs certain functions for the layers above and below it.
Glossary–23