User manual

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Glossary
The Glossary section defines the terms used in the Computer Interface Card (CIC) -MP environment.
Agent
Implemented SNMP applications in network elements (hosts). Agents perform the
network management’s functions as requested by the network administrator from
an NMS.
Dry Closure
Input
Non-powered contact type inputs—switch, relay contact, open-collector.
Dry Closure
Output
Form C dry-contact outputs, which are common, normally open, or normally
closed.
Ethernet
Local Area Network technology, originally developed by the Xerox Corporation,
can link up to 1,024 nodes in a bus network. Ethernet provides raw data transfer in
a rate of 10 megabits/sec. with actual throughputs in 2 to 3 megabits/sec. using a
baseband (single-channel) communication technique. Ethernet uses carrier sense
multiple access collision detection (CSMA/CD) that prevents network failures when
two devices attempt to access the network at the same time. LAN hardware
manufactures use Ethernet protocol; their products may not be compatible.
Gateway
A computer that attaches to a number of networks and routes packets between
them. The packets can be different protocols at the higher levels.
IP
Internet Protoco
l
—The TCP/IP standard protocol defines the IP datagram as the
unit of information passed across a network.
IP Address
Internet Protocol Address—A 32-bit address assigned to hosts participating in a
TCP/IP network. The IP address consists of network and host portions. It is
assigned to an interconnection of a host to a physical network.
MAC
Medium Access Control—The network layer between the physical and the data
link layers. Specifically, the physical (hardware) address exists in this layer.
MIB
Management Information Base—The database, i.e., set of variables maintained by
a gateway running SNMP.
NC
Normally Closed —Refers to a contact switch that is normally closed.
NIC
Network Interface Controller—The hardware interface to the physical connection
to the network.
NMS
Network Management Station
NO
Normally Open—Refers to a contact switch that is normally open.
OID
Object Identifier—The variables defined in a MIB.
Personality
The current device specific software uploaded to the Computer Interface Card
(CIC).
Router
A computer that manages traffic between different network segments or different
network topologies. It directs the destination IP address. The network media can be
different, but the higher-level protocols must be the same.
RS-232
A specification for serial communication between data communication equipment
and computers.
SNMP
Simple Network Management Protoco
l
—A standard protocol used to monitor IP
hosts, networks, and gateways. SNMP defines a set of simple operations that can
be performed on the OIDs of the MIBs managed by the monitored Agents. It
employs the UDP/IP transport layer to move its object between the Agents and the
NMS.
Sub-Agent
A software module that manages specific MIB sub-groups for an Agent. They
communicate with the Agent using a SMUX (multiplexer).
TCP/IP
Transmission
C
ontrol Protocol/Internet Protocol—A protocol suite used by more
than 15 million users with a UNIX association and widely used to link computers of
different kinds.