User guide

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magic number. Random number generated by a router and included in
packets it sends to other routers. If the router receives a packet with the
same magic number it is using, the router sends and receives packets with
new random numbers to determine if it is talking to itself.
MD5. A 128-bit, message-digest, authentication algorithm used to create
digital signatures. It computes a secure, irreversible, cryptographically
strong hash value for a document. Less secure than variant SHA-1.
metric. Distance, measured in the number of routers a packet must
traverse, that a packet must travel to go from a router to a remote network.
A route with a low metric is considered more efficient, and therefore prefera-
ble, to a route with a high metric. See hop count.
modem. Modulator/demodulator. Device used to convert a digital signal to
an analog signal for transmission over standard telephone lines. A modem
at the other end of the connection converts the analog signal back to a digi-
tal signal.
MRU. Maximum Receive Unit. The maximum packet size, in bytes, that a
network interface will accept.
MSSID. Multiple Service Set IDentifier. Unique identifiers of data sent over a
wireless connection that act as passwords when wireless devices try to join
wireless networks. An SSID differentiates one wireless network from
another, so all access points and all devices attempting to connect to a spe-
cific network must use the same SSID. Netopia Gateways support up to four
SSIDs.
SSIDs are also sometimes referred to as Network Names because they are
names that identify wireless networks.
MTU. Maximum Transmission Unit. The maximum packet size, in bytes, that
can be sent over a network interface.
MULTI-LAYER. The Open System Interconnection (OSI) model divides net-
work traffic into seven distinct levels, from the Physical (hardware) layer to
the Application (software) layer. Those in between are the Presentation, Ses-
sion, Transport, Network, and Data Link layers. Simple first and second gen-