Specifications

Glossary–2
alarms
Conditions in a hub or a community that the alarms software monitors. The condi-
tions are detected by polling a predetermined list of MIBs on each type of network
module. When a MIB value changes, the alarms software generates an alarm.
attachment unit interface (AUI)
A 15-pin “D”-sub connector interface that allows stations to connect to the Ether-
net\IEEE 802.3 network.
authorized station
An addressable node on a local area network (LAN) that is capable of transmitting,
repeating, and receiving data.
autodiscovery
The capability of the hub chassis and its associated firmware to detect, identify, and
configure certain network modules when they are installed in the hub. Modules that
the hub cannot autodiscover must be manually added to the hub’s configuration
using either the hub’s console setup port or the clearVISN Add Module window.
autopartition
To automatically disable a repeater port. The autopartition algorithm protects the
network from certain fault conditions that would halt all LAN communications, for
example, a media short or break, a faulty connector, or faulty or missing media ter-
mination.
If it detects such faults on any of its ports, the repeater isolates the faulty segment
from the network.
A repeater does not respond to input received from an autopartitioned port, except to
determine whether or not the fault condition has been removed. However, a repeater
continues to transmit data to an autopartitioned port.
backbone
A core network (usually high speed) to which multiple local area networks (LANs)
are connected, often using bridges or brouters, and over which traffic can pass.
bandwidth
A measure of the amount of traffic the media can handle at one time. In digital com-
munications, bandwidth describes the amount of data, in bits per second, that can be
transmitted over the line.