Owner's Manual

Appendix E. Glossary | 931
NETGEAR 8800 User Manual
IPv6 Internet Protocol version 6. IPv6 is the next-generation IP protocol. The
specification was completed in 1997 by IETF. IPv6 is backward- compatible with
and is designed to fix the shortcomings of IPv4, such as data security and
maximum number of user addresses. IPv6 increases the address space from 32
to 128 bits, providing for an unlimited (for all intents and purposes) number of
networks and systems; IPv6 is expected to slowly replace IPv4, with the two
existing side by side for many years.
IP address IP address is a 32-bit number that identifies each unique sender or receiver of
information that is sent in packets; it is written as four octets separated by
periods (dotted-decimal format). An IP address has two parts: the identifier of a
particular network and an identifier of the particular device (which can be a
server or a workstation) within that network. You may add an optional
subnetwork identifier. Only the network part of the address is looked at between
the routers that move packets from one point to another along the network.
Although you can have a static IP address, many IP addresses are assigned
dynamically from a pool. Many corporate networks and online services
economize on the number of IP addresses they use by sharing a pool of IP
addresses among a large number of users. (The format of the IP address is
slightly changed in IPv6.)
IPTV Internal Protocol television. IPTV uses a digital signal sent via broadband
through a switched telephone or cable system. An accompanying set top box
(that sits on top of the TV) decodes the video and converts it to standard
television signals.
IR Internal router. In OSPF, IR is an internal router that has all interfaces within the
same area.
IRDP Internet Router Discovery Protocol. Used with IP, IRDP enables a host to
determine the address of a router that it can use as a default gateway. In
NETGEAR implementation, IP multinetting requires a few changes for the IRDP.
ISO This abbreviation is commonly used for the International Organization for
Standardization, although it is not an acronym. ISO was founded in 1946 and
consists of standards bodies from more than 75 nations. ISO had defined a
number of important computer standards, including the OSI reference model
used as a standard architecture for networking.
ISP An Internet Service Provider is an organization that provides access to the
Internet. Small ISPs provide service via modem and ISDN while the larger ones
also offer private line hookups (T1, fractional T1, etc.). Customers are generally
billed a fixed rate per month, but other charges may apply. For a fee, a Web site
can be created and maintained on the ISP's server, allowing the smaller
organization to have a presence on the Web with its own domain name.
ITU-T International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication. The ITU-T is the
telecommunications division of the ITU international standards body.
I (Continued)