NETGEAR 700 Series manual Packet sent to all devices on a network

700 Series Managed Switch User’s Guide for Software v2.1

also Reverse ARP (RARP) which can be used by a host to discover its IP address. In this case, the host broadcasts its physical address and a RARP server replies with the host's IP address.

Auto-negotiation

A feature that allows twisted-pair ports to advertise their capabilities for speed, duplex and flow control. When connected to a port that also supports auto-negotiation, the link can automatically configure itself to the optimum setup.

Auto Uplink

Auto UplinkTM technology (also called MDI/MDIX) eliminates the need to worry about crossover vs. straight-through Ethernet cables. Auto UplinkTM will accommodate either type of cable to make the right connection.

Backbone

The part of a network used as a primary path for transporting traffic between network segments.

Bandwidth

The information capacity, measured in bits per second, that a channel could transmit. Bandwidth examples include 10 Mbps for Ethernet, 100 Mbps for Fast Ethernet, and 1000 Mbps (I Gbps) for Gigabit Ethernet.

Baud

The signaling rate of a line, that is, the number of transitions (voltage or frequency changes) made per second. Also known as line speed.

Broadcast

A packet sent to all devices on a network.

Broadcast storm

Multiple simultaneous broadcasts that typically absorb all the available network bandwidth and can cause a network to fail. Broadcast storms can be due to faulty network devices or network loops.

CA

A Certificate Authority is a trusted third-party organization or company that issues digital certificates used to create digital signatures and public-private key pairs.

Cat 5

Category 5 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cabling. An Ethernet network operating at 10 Mbits/second (10BASE-T) will often tolerate low quality cables, but at 100 Mbits/second (10BASE-Tx) the cable must be rated as Category 5, or Cat 5 or Cat V, by the Electronic Industry Association (EIA).

This rating will be printed on the cable jacket. Cat 5 cable contains eight conductors, arranged in four twisted pairs, and terminated with an RJ45 type connector. In addition, there are restrictions on maximum cable length for both 10 and 100 Mbits/second networks.

2 Glossary

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