Glossary
MDI/X (Media Dependent Interface/Cross- over): Port on a network hub or switch that crosses the incoming transmit lines with the outgoing receive lines.
MHz (MegaHertz): One million cycles per second.
MIB II: A database containing performance information and statistics on each device in a network.
MIPS (Million Instructions Per Second): A measurement of processing speed.
NAT (Network Address Translation): An in- ternet standard that enables a LAN to use one set of IP addresses for internal traffic and a second set for external traffic.
NIC (Network Interface Card): An expan- sion card connected to a computer so the computer can be connected to a network.
Packet: A block of data that is transferred as a single unit, also called a frame or a block.
Packet Filtering: Discarding unwanted network traffic based on its originating ad- dress or its type.
PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect): A bus that is connected directly to the CPU.
PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) Card: Removable module that adds features to a portable computer.
Ping (Packet Internet Groper): An Internet utility used to determine whether a par- ticular IP address is online.
Plug and Play: Hardware that, once in- stalled (“plugged in”), can immediately be used (“played”), as opposed to hardware that requires manual configuration.
PoE (Power over Ethernet): A mechanism to send DC power to a device using a CAT5 Ethernet cable.
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