IBM 4986B LanProbe manual IEEE 802.3 standard, IP Address Internet Protocol Address, LAN cable

IEEE 802.3 standard

Part of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802 family of LAN standards. The 802.3 standard defines the physical layer (layer 1) and part of the data link layer (layer 2) of the ISO OSI reference model for a CSMA/CD LAN. The IEEE 802.3 standard evolved from Ethernet, but the two networks are not fully compatible with each other.

IP Address (Internet Protocol Address)

A32-bit address that is divided into network-identifier and host-identifier fields, which are used to identify a particular physical network or a particular device attached to that physical network (respectively).

LAN (local area network)

A general-purpose communications network that interconnects a variety of devices within a limited geographical area. Two common LANs, IEEE 802.3 and Ethernet, have compatible cabling requirements, and can co-exist on a common installation, but have different protocols.A LAN might connect computers on adjacent desks, within a building, or within several buildings of a campus. See also extended LAN.

LAN cable

The medium through which data moves in a LAN. LAN cables come in many types. For example, thick (10 mm) coaxial cable, thin (5 mm) coaxial cable, fiber- optic cable, and twisted-pair cable.

LanProbe

See probe.

MAC address

A 12-digit (48 bit) hexadecimal number that identifies a specific network station and allows messages to be directed to that station only. Because the IEEE has assigned identifiers for each hardware manufacturer, no two pieces of equipment have the same address. The address assigned according to the IEEE plan is referred to as a device’s globally-administered station address. Some devices provide an option for the user to assign a different station address that will override the original. This type of address is referred to as a locally-administered station address. The station address is also commonly called a MAC address, Ethernet address, Token-Ring address, or physical address.

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