SECTION 5 | GLOSSARY |
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physical network. The MTU places an upper bound limit on the size of a message that can be transferred by the network in a single frame. Messages exceeding the MTU must be fragmented before transmission, and reassembled at the destination.
Multicast
A data transmission sent from one sender to multiple receivers.
See also broadcast and unicast.
N
NAT
Network Address Translation is an Internet standard for a LAN to use one set of IP addresses for internal traffic and a second set of IP addresses for external traffic. NAT provides some security because the IP addresses of LAN computers are invisible on the Internet.
Network
Two or more computers connected to communicate with each other. Networks have traditionally been connected using some kind of wiring.
NIC
A Network Interface Card converts computer data to serial data in a packet format that it sends over the LAN. A NIC is installed in an expansion slot or can be
P
Packet
The unit of data that is routed between the sender and destination on the Internet or other
PCMCIA
The Personal Computer Memory Card International Association sets international standards for connecting peripherals to portable computers. Laptop computers typically have a PCMCIA slot that can hold one or two PC Cards to provide features such as Ethernet connectivity.
PING
A network utility that tests host reachability by sending a small packet to the host and waiting for a reply. If you PING a computer IP address and receive a reply, you know the computer is reachable over the network. It also stands for “Packet Internet Groper.”
Port Triggering
A mechanism that allows incoming communication with specified applications.
SECTION 5, GLOSSARY |