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List of terms

protocol data unit (PDU)

A unit or a packet of information exchanged between peer entities in a particular protocol stack. The PDU is typically submitted to the next lower (server) layer for transfer to its peer and can contain an embedded PDU of the next higher (client) layer.

protocol independent multicast-sparse mode (PIM-SM)

A protocol for routing multicast traffic to sparsely populated receivers that supports scalable multicast routing, independent of any unicast routing protocol.

provider nodes (P)

The P node is a backbone router that provides the MPLS and IGP connectivity between ingress and egress PE nodes. The P nodes never connect to CE devices and do not keep any VPN routing information. On the MPLS backbone, the P node acts as a core Label Switch Router (LSR), switching MPLS packets along the Transport LSP tunnels used to forward VPN traffic from PE to PE. This way, the P node only acts on the outer transport label present on the packet label stack.

provider edge router (PE)

A router that is part of a service provider’s network connected to a customer edge (CE) router. All MPLS VPN processing occurs in the PE router.

provisionable attribute

A component attribute that causes a Nortel Multiservice Switch subsystem or service to perform or behave in a certain manner. All components that are provisioned are saved to be used again when the system restarts. Provisionable attribute values can be configured by the network operator or administrator. Some components with provisionable attributes are mandatory and are created automatically. Components with provisionable attributes can also have operational attributes.

provisioned component

A component that is configured using operator commands. It usually contains provisioned attributes and subcomponents. The provisioned information is usually permanent, that is, retained in the event of a power outage.

provisioning

The act of setting the values of the data required to operate the system. Provisioning involves adding, deleting, or changing components and setting the values of their attributes.

Nortel Multiservice Switch 7400/15000/20000

Terminology

NN10600-005 7.2S1 Standard

PCR7.2 and up March 2006

Copyright © 2006, Nortel

Nortel Confidential

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Panasonic 15000 Protocol data unit PDU, Protocol independent multicast-sparse mode PIM-SM, Provider nodes P, Provisioning