IBM 201 multicast address see LAN multicast, N see Newton, network interface, ns see nanosecond

modulation. (1) The process by which a characteristic of a carrier is varied in accordance with a characteristic of an information-bearing signal (T). (2) The process by which a message signal is impressed upon a carrier signal so that the carrier is altered to represent the message signal.

multicast address (see LAN multicast).

multimode optical fiber. (1) A graded-index or step-index optical fiber that allows more than one bound mode to propagate (E). Contrast with single-mode optical fiber. (2) In FDDI, an optical fiber waveguide usually characterized by a core diameter of 50 to 100 micron that will allow a large number of modes to propagate.

multiplexing. In data transmission, a function that permits two or more data sources to share a common transmission medium so that each data source has its own channel (A) (I).

N

N (see Newton).

nanosecond (ns). One thousand millionth of a second.

NAS. Network-attached storage.

NDMP (see network data management protocol).

network-attached storage (NAS). A task-optimized storage device directly attached to a network that works independent of the general-purpose file servers.

network data management protocol (NDMP). An open standard protocol for enterprise-wide network-based backup for network attached storage.

network file system (NFS). A protocol, developed by Sun Microsystems, Incorporated, that allows any host in a network to mount another host’s file directories. After a file directory is mounted, the it appears to reside on the local host.

network information services (NIS). A set of UNIX network services (for example, a distributed service for retrieving information about the users, groups, network addresses, and gateways in a network) that resolve naming and addressing differences among computers in a network.

network interface.

newton (N). The force that when applied to a body having a mass of one kilogram gives it an acceleration of one meter per second per second (1 m/s(2)).

NFS (see network file system).

NI (see network interface).

NIS (see network information services).

non-broadcast frame. A frame containing a specific destination address and that can contain routing information specifying which bridges are to forward it. A bridge will forward a non-broadcast frame only if that bridge is included in the frame’s routing information.

non-canonical.In this form, the most significant bit of an octet is transmitted first.

ns (see nanosecond).

O

ODI (see Open Data-Link Interface).

Open Data-Link Interface (ODI). A common interface for network drivers developed by Novell. It allows multiple transport protocols to run on one network adapter.

118NAS 200 User’s Reference