Netopia 4752 manual Glossary

Glossary 3

header: In packets, a header is part of the envelope information that surrounds the actual data being transmitted. In e-mail, a header is usually the address and routing information found at the top of messages.

hop: A single traverse from one node to another on a LAN.

hop count: The number of nodes (routers or other devices) a packet has gone through. If there are six routers between source and destination nodes, the hop count for the packet will be six when it arrives at its destination node. The maximum allowable hop count is usually 15.

host: A single, addressable device on a network. Computers, networked printers, and routers are hosts.

host computer: A communications device that enables users to run applications programs to perform such functions as text editing, program execution, access to data bases, etc.

internet: A set of networks connected together by routers. This is a general term, not to be confused with the large, multi-organizational collection of IP networks known as the Internet. An internet is sometimes also known as an internetwork.

internet address, IP address: Any computing device that uses the Internet Protocol (IP) must be assigned an internet or IP address. This is a 32-bit number assigned by the system administrator, usually written in the form of 4 decimal fields separated by periods, e.g., 192.9.200.1. Part of the internet address is the IP network number (IP network address), and part is the host address (IP host address). All machines on a given IP network use the same IP network number, and each machine has a unique IP host address. The system administrator sets the subnet mask to specify how much of the address is network number and how much is host address. See also Class A, B, and C networks.

Internet Protocol (IP) address: A network address that uniquely identifies a device on an IP network. This type of address consists of 4 bytes, represented as decimal values, separated by periods, e.g., 192.168.2.143. All IP addresses of the form 192.168.1.xxx are private IP addresses.

IP (Internet Protocol): A networking protocol developed for use on computer systems that use the UNIX operating system. Often used with Ethernet cabling systems. In this manual, IP is used as an umbrella term to cover all packets and networking operations that include the use of the Internet Protocol. See also TCP/IP.

IP address, IP host address, IP network address: See internet address.

IP broadcast: See broadcast.

ISP (Internet service provider): A company that provides Internet-related services. Most importantly, an ISP provides Internet access services and products to other companies and consumers.

ITU (International Telecommunication Union): United Nations specialized agency for telecommunications. Successor to CCITT.

LAN (local area network): A privately owned network that offers high-speed communications channels to connect information processing equipment in a limited geographic area.

Media Access Control (MAC) address: This 48 bit address is assigned by the device manufacturer for its Ethernet connection. All Netopia 4752 units have MAC addresses of the form 00-C5-9X-XX-XX-XX. Each byte is represented as a conventional two digit hexadecimal number.

MIB (management information base): A standardized structure for SNMP management information.

modem: A device used to convert digital signals from a computer into analog signals that can be transmitted across standard analog (not ISDN) telephone lines. Modem is a contraction of modulator-demodulator.