GLOSSARY 99
MAC Address Media Access Control Address. Also called the hardware or physical address. A layer 2 address associated with a particular network device. Most devices that connect to a LAN have a MAC address assigned to them as they are used to identify other devices in a network. MAC addresses are 6 bytes long.
NAT Network Address Translation. NAT enables all the computers on your network to share one IP address. The NAT capability of the Router allows you to access the Internet from any computer on your home network without having to purchase more IP addresses from your ISP.
Network A Network is a collection of computers and other computer equipment that are connected for the purpose of exchanging information or sharing resources. Networks vary in size, some are within a single room, others span continents.
Network Interface A circuit board installed into a piece of computing equipment, for Card (NIC) example, a computer, that enables you to connect it to the network. A
NIC is also known as an adapter or adapter card.
Protocol A set of rules for communication between devices on a network. The rules dictate format, timing, sequencing and error control.
PPPoE
PPTP
Router A device that acts as a central hub by connecting to each computer's network interface card and managing the data traffic between the local network and the Internet.