Glossary

Bps

Bytes per second.

bridge

(1)An attaching device that connects two local area network (LAN) segments to allow the transfer of information from one LAN segment to the other. A bridge can connect the LAN segments directly by network adapters and software in a single device, or can connect network adapters in two devices through software and use of a telecommunication link between the two adapters. (2) A functional unit that connects two LANs that use the same logical link control protocol, but may use different media access control protocols (T). Contrast with router. (3) A device that connects and passes packets between two network segments that use the same communications protocol.

bridge port

B_Port. (1) In Fibre Channel protocol, a fabric inter-element port used to connect bridge devices with E_Ports on a switch. B_Ports provide a subset of E_Port functionality. (2) A term for a physical interface between the fabric (switch) and a bridge device. The interface is identical to an expansion port (E_Port), but it does not participate in full expansion port protocols. As such, it does not assign domain IDs or participate in routing protocol. See also expansion port; fabric port; generic port; node port; segmented expansion port.

British thermal unit

Btu. The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit (D).

broadband

Large bandwidth communications channel capable of multiple, parallel high-speed transmissions.

broadcast

In Fibre Channel protocol, to send a transmission to all node ports (N_Ports) on a fabric. See also broadcast frame.

broadcast frame

In Fibre Channel protocol, a frame whose destination address specifies all node ports (N_Ports) in the fabric. See also broadcast.

Btu

See British thermal unit.

buffer

Storage area for data in transit. Buffers compensate for differences in processing speeds between devices. See buffer-to-buffer credit.