Glossary

MBps

Megabytes per second.

media access control address

MAC address. Hardware address of a node (device) connected to a network.

megabyte

MB. A unit of measure for data storage, equal to 1,048,576 bytes. Generally approximated as one million bytes.

memory

A device or storage system capable of storing and retrieving data.

menu

A list of items displayed on a monitor from which a user can make a selection.

menu bar

The menu bar is located across the top of a monitor window. Pull-down menus are displayed by clicking on the menu bar option with the mouse, or by pressing Alt with the underlined letter of the name for the menu bar option (D).

MIB

See management information base.

mirroring

The writing of data to pairs of drives in an array, creating two exact copies of the drive contents. This procedure provides a backup of data in case of a failure.

modem

Modem is an abbreviation for modulator/demodulator. A communication device that converts digital computer data to signals and signals to computer data. These signals can be received or transmitted by the modem via a phone line or other method of telecommunication.

ms

Millisecond.

multimedia

A simultaneous presentation of data in more than one form, such as by means of both visual and audio.

multimode optical fiber

A graded-index or step-index optical fiber that allows more than one mode (light path) to propagate. Contrast with singlemode optical fiber.

multiplexer

A device that allows two or more signals to be transmitted simultaneously on a single channel.