Technical data

mask
A means of subdividing networks using address modification. A mask is a dotted
quad specifying the bits of the destination that are significant. Except when used
in a route filter, GATED supports only contiguous masks.
mask length
The number of significant bits in the mask.
master file directory (MFD)
The root of an OpenVMS file system on a particular physical device.
master server
The name server that is the authority for a specific domain space. See also BIND
server.
maximum transmission unit (MTU)
The largest possible unit of data that can be sent on a given physical medium. See
also fragmentation.
MBUFs
See memory buffers.
memory buffers (MBUFs)
The portions of memory that act as queues for data arriving at a port before the
processisreadytoclaimthatdata.
message
A message block or a series of message blocks that constitute a logical grouping of
information; each is delimited by communications control characters.
metric
One of the units used to help a system determine the best route. Metrics may be
based on hop count, routing delay, or an arbitrary value set by the administrator
depending on the type of routing protocol. Routing metrics may influence the value
of assigned internal preferences. See also preference.
MFD
See master file directory.
MIB
See Management Information Base.
MIB-II
See Management Information Base II.
MIME
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions; a specification for the transfer of nontext
files with regular Internet e-mail.
mode
A protection placed on a file.
modem (modulator/demodulator)
A device that translates digital signals (electrical impulses) generated by a
computer into analog signals (tones) that can be transmitted over telephone lines,
and vice versa.
mount
An NFS process that makes a remote directory available to local users.
Glossary–26