4GLOSSARY
NDIS
Network Driver Interface Specification. Defines the LAN Manager network driver architecture and interfaces that let a DOS or OS/2 system support network adapters. This architecture provides a standardized way to write drivers for network adapters.
NetWare
A series of network operating systems and related products made by Novell, Inc.
ODI driver
Open Data-Link Interface. A MAC-level specification developed by Novell and Apple®. Drivers complying with this specification can work with NetWare 2.x, 3.x, and 4.x. Like NDIS, ODI drivers support multiple protocols and adapters, and can be unloaded from memory to conserve conventional DOS RAM space.
Parallel Tasking
Third-generation Ethernet adapter architecture. Parallel Tasking technology accelerates data transfer by processing data packets simultaneously instead of sequentially. For example, when transmission is the task, the Parallel Tasking architecture begins to write data to the network even before an entire frame has been loaded into the adapter’s buffer memory. This permits complete parallelism in all data transfers.
Server
In a client-server computing environment, a device that provides access to network services, such as printers or applications.
Transceiver
A hardware device that links a node to a network cable and functions as both a transmitter and a receiver.
Twisted-pair
Wiring similar to that found in the telephone system, consisting of two insulated wires loosely twisted around each other to help cancel out induced noise in balanced circuits.
