GLOSSARY
10BASE-T
The IEEE 802.3 specification for Ethernet over
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cabling.
100BASE-FX
100Mbps Ethernet implementation over fiber.
100BASE-TX
100Mbps Ethernet implementation over Category 5
and Type 1 Twisted Pair cabling.
ageing
The automatic removal of dynamic entries from the
Switch Database which have timed-out and are no
longer valid.
ATM
Asynchronous Transfer Mode. A connection ori-
ented transmission protocol based on fixed length
cells (packets). ATM is designed to carry a complete
range of user traffic, including voice, data and video
signals.
backbone
The part of a network used as the primary path for
transporting traffic between network segments.
backbone port
A port which does not learn device addresses, and
which receives all frames with an unknown address.
Backbone ports are normally used to connect the
Switch to the backbone of your network. Note that
backbone ports were formerly known as designated
downlink ports.
bandwidth
Information capacity, measured in bits per second,
that a channel can transmit. The bandwidth of
Ethernet is 10Mbps, the bandwidth of Fast Ether-
net is 100Mbps.
baud rate
The switching speed of a line. Also known as line
speed.
BOOTP
The BOOTP protocol allows you to automatically
map an IP address to a given MAC address each
time a device is started. In addition, the protocol
can assign the subnet mask and default gateway to
a device.