Glossary
Destination Address: The address portion of a packet that identifies the intended recipient station.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol): Based on BOOTP, it uses a pool of IP addresses, which it assigns to each device connected to it, and retrieves the address when the device becomes dormant for a period of time.
DNS (Domain Name System): System used to map readable machine names into IP addresses.
Driver: Software that interfaces a computer with a specific hardware device.
Dynamic IP Address: An IP address that is automatically assigned to a client station in a TCP/IP network, typically by a DHCP server.
Ethernet: The most widely used architecture for Local Area Networks (LANs). It is a
Ethernet cable: A wire similar to telephone cable that carries signals between Ethernet devices. It is designed to connect a single device’s NIC to a router, switch, or hub. See also Crossover cable.
File and Print Sharing: A Microsoft application that allows computers on a network to share files and printers.
Firmware: Computer programming instructions that are stored in a read- only memory unit rather than being implemented through software.
Frame: A fixed block of data, transmitted as a single entity. Also referred to as a packet.
26