Internet

Global WAN. A series of protocols have been defined for exchanging data, known by the name TCP/IP.

Every Network subscribers is identifiable via its IP address. DNS assigns a Domain name to the IP address.

Important services on the Internet include the World Wide Web (WWW), e-mail, file transfer and discussion forums.

Internet Service Provider

Enables access to the Internet for a fee.

IP (Internet Protocol)

TCP/IP protocol on the Internet. IP is responsible for addressing parties in a Network using IP addresses and routes data from the sender to the recipient. IP determines the paths (routing) along which the data packets travel.

IP address

A unique address for a network component within a network on the basis of the TCP/IP protocols (e.g. LAN, Inter- net). On the Internet, domain names are usually assigned instead of IP addresses. DNS assigns the corresponding IP address to the domain name.

The IP address has four parts (decimal numbers between 0 and 255) separated by full stops (e.g. 230.94.233.2).

The IP address is made up of the network number and the number of the Network subscribers (e.g. phone).

Depending on the Subnet mask the front one, two or three parts make up the network number and the rest of the IP address addresses the network com- ponent. The network number of all the components in any one network must be identical.

IP addresses can be assigned automatically with DHCP (dynamic IP addresses) or manually (static IP addresses).

See also: DHCP.

Glossary

IP pool range

Range of IP addresses that the DHCP server can use to assign dynamic IP addresses.

L

LAN

Local Area Network

Network with a restricted physical range. A LAN can be wireless (WLAN) and/or wired.

Local IP Address

The local or private IP address is the address for a network component in the local network (LAN). The network operator can assign any address he or she wants. Devices that act as a link from a local network to the Internet (gateway or router) have a public and a private IP address.

See also IP address.

Local SIP PortSee SIP port/Local SIP port.

M

MAC address

Media Access Control Address

Hardware address by means of which each network device (e.g. network card, switch, phone) can be uniquely identified worldwide. It is composed of six parts (hexadecimal numbers), separated by a "-" (e.g. 00-90-65-44-00-3A).

The MAC address is assigned by the manufacturer and cannot be changed.

Mbps

Million bits per second

Unit of the transmission speed in a network.

MRU

Maximum Receive Unit

Defines the maximum user data volume within a data packet.

MTU

Maximum Transmission Unit

Defines the maximum length of a data packet that can be carried over the network at a time.

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