C-6 CHAPTER C: GLOSSARY
MAN Metropolitan area network, a network that covers a city.
MIB Management information base.
NETBIOS Network Basic Input/Output System, a standard for supporting network communications that is independent of the underlying network transport type.
NetWare Novell’s Network Operating System (NOS) line.
Network A method of connecting computers and other devices together with cabling so that they can communicate with each other.
NIC Network interface card, an expansion card that enables a PC to communicate on a network.
Network layer The third layer of the OSI reference model. This layer is responsible for controlling message traffic.
NFS A network file system developed by Sun Microsystems for shared files over a UNIX platform.
Node An alternative name for a computer or device (such as a printer or modem) that is connected to a network.
NOS Network operating system.
OSI Open Systems Interconnection, a body of standards set by the International Standards Organization to define the activities that must occur when computers communicate. There are seven layers, and each contains a specific set of rules to follow at that point in the communication.
PAP Password Authentication Protocol. Part of the
PPPprotocol to ensure authentication of the connection between two devices.
Piggyback A way of transmitting routing information over ISDN lines by adding it to valid data frames. This avoids ISDN calls being generated solely for passing routing information.