GL-1

8000-A2-GB20-20 November 1997
Glossary
An Ethernet LAN that works on twisted-pair wiring.
A symbol (usually numeric) that identifies the interface attached to a network.
Consists of an audible or visual alarm in the central office indicating the rack with an alarm
condition.
Address Resolution Protocol. The TCP/IP protocol used to dynamically bind a high-level IP
address to a low-level physical hardware address. ARP is only across a single physical
network and is limited to networks that support hardware broadcast.
An authentication server can either be a RADIUS server or an XTACACS server. An
authentication server is used to confirm an end-user system’s access location.
A common bus at the rear of the HotWire 8800 DSL Access System chassis connecting
each DSL card to the MCC card for diagnostic and network management. It also
distributes dc power to each slot.
The range of frequencies that a circuit can pass. The greater the bandwidth, the more
information that can be sent in a given amount of time.
Binary digit. The smallest unit of information, representing a choice between a one or a
zero (sometimes called mark or space).
Bootstrap Protocol. Protocol a host uses to obtain startup information , including its IP
address, from a server.
Bits per second. Indicates the speed at which bits are transmitted across a data
connection.
A sequence of successive bits (usually eight) handled as a unit in data transmission.
The physical building where all local telephone service wiring is distributed to a
surrounding area.
An IP address specified as 0.0.0.0. A route used when no others have the desired
destination.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.
A component of the dynamic IP-addressing mechanism. The DSL card in the DSLAM acts
as a DHCP relay agent between the end-user system and the DHCP server. The DHCP
relay agent detects and forwards a DHCP discover or request message to the appropriate
DHCP server. It also tracks the end-user IP address and lease time from the DHCP
acknowledgement by updating the routing tables automatically.
Domain Name System. An online distributed database that maps machine names into IP
addresses.
A block of IP addresses. Syntactically, all IP addresses within a given domain would share
a common IP address prefix of some length.
In extended networks, the direction in which diagnostic messages flow from the diagnostic
control site to any intermediate links and then to the final tributary modem.
Digital Subscriber Line. DSL is a copper loop transmission technology enabling high-speed
access in the local loop.
10BaseT
Address
Alarm System
ARP
Authentication
Server
Backplane
Bandwidth
Bit
BOOTP
bps
byte
Central Office
Default Route
DHCP
DHCP Relay Agent
DNS
Domain
Downstream
DSL