Technical data

path cost
The sum of the circuit costs along a path between two nodes.
An OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) protocol metric. See metric and OSPF.
path length
The total distance (the number of circuits) between a source node and a destination
node, measured in hops. Each line between systems, including routing nodes and
end nodes, equals one hop. See also network diameter.
path name
A unique designation that identifies a directory or subdirectory. UNIX path names
are composed of a series of fields separated by slashes (/); each field designates a
file name that is uniquely contained in the previous field (directory).
path MTU
The smallest MTU of any data link that packets traverse between two hosts. The
path MTU depends upon the route being used at the time. Therefore, the sending
path MTU may differ from the receiving path MTU.
path MTU discovery
A mechanism to determine the path MTU at any one time.
path splitting
The ability to split the transmission load destined for a single node over several
paths of equal path cost. Any destination node receiving data that has been split
over several paths must support out-of-order packet caching.
PC-NFS Daemon
The server software that handles authentication and printing requests from
personal computer implementations of NFS.
peer
Another router with which implicit or explicit communication is established by a
routing protocol. Peers are often on a shared network. This term is used mostly by
Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). Usually synonymous with neighbor.
physical address
A unique address of each physical connection of a node to the physical medium.
physical connection
The Physical layer communications path between two systems.
physical connectivity
The Physical layer connectivity that is a result of nodes being attached to each
other via active lines and nodes.
PING
See Packet Internet Groper.
point-to-point circuit
A circuit that connects only two nodes. A point-to-point configuration requires a
separate physical connection between each pair of nodes. Point-to-point systems
communicate directly with other systems. Contrast with multipoint circuit.
point-to-point line
A line that connects two systems by using a single circuit.
Glossary–33