Administrator’s Handbook
asynchronous communication. Network system that allows data to be sent at irregular intervals by pre- ceding each octet with a start bit and following it with a stop bit. Compare synchronous communication.
Auth Protocol. Authentication Protocol for IP packet header. The three parameter values are None, Encap- sulating Security Payload (ESP) and Authentication Header (AH).
backbone. The segment of the network used as the primary path for transporting traffic between network segments.
baud rate. Unit of signaling speed equal to the number of number of times per second a signal in a com- munications channel varies between states. Baud is synonymous with bits per second (bps) if each signal represents one bit.
binary. Numbering system that uses only zeros and ones.
bps. Bits per second. A measure of data transmission speed.
BRI. Basic Rate Interface. ISDN standard for provision of
bridge. Device that passes packets between two network segments according to the packets' destination address.
broadcast. Message sent to all nodes on a network.
broadcast address. Special IP address reserved for simultaneous broadcast to all network nodes.
buffer. Storage area used to hold data until it can be forwarded.
carrier. Signal suitable for transmission of information.
CCITT. Comité Consultatif International Télégraphique et Téléphonique or Consultative Committee for Inter- national Telegraph and Telephone. An international organization responsible for developing telecommunica- tion standards.
CD. Carrier Detect.
CHAP.
client. Network node that requests services from a server.
CPE. Customer Premises Equipment. Terminating equipment such as terminals, telephones and modems that connects a customer site to the telephone company network.
CO. Central Office. Typically a local telephone company facility responsible for connecting all lines in an area.
