Glossary

MDI/X (Media Dependent Interface/Cross- over): Port on a network hub or switch that crosses the incoming transmit lines with the outgoing receive lines.

MHz (MegaHertz): One million cycles per second.

MIB II: A database containing performance information and statistics on each device in a network.

MIPS (Million Instructions Per Second): A measurement of processing speed.

NAT (Network Address Translation): An in- ternet standard that enables a LAN to use one set of IP addresses for internal traffic and a second set for external traffic.

NIC (Network Interface Card): An expan- sion card connected to a computer so the computer can be connected to a network.

Packet: A block of data that is transferred as a single unit, also called a frame or a block.

Packet Filtering: Discarding unwanted network traffic based on its originating ad- dress or its type.

PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect): A bus that is connected directly to the CPU.

PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) Card: Removable module that adds features to a portable computer.

Ping (Packet Internet Groper): An Internet utility used to determine whether a par- ticular IP address is online.

Plug and Play: Hardware that, once in- stalled (“plugged in”), can immediately be used (“played”), as opposed to hardware that requires manual configuration.

PoE (Power over Ethernet): A mechanism to send DC power to a device using a CAT5 Ethernet cable.