96GLOSSARY
loop An event that occurs when two network devices are connected by more than one path, thereby causing packets to repeatedly cycle around the network and not reach their destination.
MAC Media Access Control. A protocol specified by the IEEE for determining which devices have access to a network at any one time.
MAC address Media Access Control address; also called 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.
main port The port in a resilient link that carries data traffic in normal operating conditions.
MDI Medium Dependent Interface. An Ethernet port connection where the transmitter of one device is connected to the receiver of another device.
MIB Management Information Base. A collection of information about the management characteristics and parameters of a networking device. MIBs are used by the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to gather information about the devices on a network. The Switch contains its own internal MIB.
multicast A packet sent to a specific group of endstations on a network.
multicast filtering A system that allows a network device to only forward multicast traffic to an endstation if it has registered that it would like to receive that traffic.
NIC Network Interface Card. A circuit board installed in an endstation that allows it to be connected to a network.
Policy Comprises a set of “rules” that are applied to a network so that a network meets the needs of the business. That is, traffic can be prioritised across a network according to its importance to that particular business type.
