Glossary 1
Glossary
100BASE-TX
IEEE’s specifications for 100 Mbps Ethernet using twisted-pair cable (100W Cat. 5 STP
or UTP). The maximum length of cable for a point-to-point connection is 100 meters.
Collision
A condition in which two packets transmitted over a medium interfere with each other.
Their interference makes both signals unintelligible. The transmitting devices have to
halt transmission for a random period of time before trying to send data again.
Configuration
The way to set up a computer, server, or local area network.
Connection
A logical binding between two or more users of an interconnection service.
Daisy-Chain Port
An MDI RJ-45 port used to cascade compatible devices in a daisy-chain configuration
using straight-through twisted-pair cable. To cascade two devices, either run a connec-
tion from the daisy-chain port on one device to a station port on the other device, or
cascade the two devices by running crossover cable between MDI-X station ports on
both devices.
Ethernet
A network communication system developed and standardized by DEC, Intel, and
Xerox, using baseband transmission, CSMA/CD access and logical bus topology, and
coaxial cable. The successor IEEE 802.3 standard provides for integration into the OSI
model and extends the physical layer and media with repeaters and implementations that
operate on fiber optics, broadband, and twisted-pair.