2GLOSSARY
Backbone
The main transmission medium used to interconnect the workgroup areas of a network. It is usually coaxial or
Backplane
A motherboard assembly in a PC with connectors and printed circuit traces into which printer circuit boards are inserted.
Bus
An electronic pathway along which signals are transmitted from one area of a computer to another.
Bus master adapter
An adapter that contains its own processor, which allows the adapter to operate independently of the computer’s main processor.
Coaxial cable
An electrical wire consisting of two primary electrical elements: an outer braided wire that acts as a ground and an inner one used to carry signals.
Configuration
The software settings that allow different hardware components of a computer system to communicate with one another.
Driver
A program, usually resident in server or workstation memory, that controls the network hardware (such as adapters or controllers) or implements the protocol stacks through which
Echo server
A computer set up to function as an “echo” to the primary computer. An echo server receives packets from the adapter being tested and echoes them back to the adapter.
