Nortel BayStack 650 User Manual page 149

MAC layer
mobile unit
NDIS
network driver
network operating
system
OSI reference model
PCMCIA
peer-to-peer network
Physical layer
QuickList
203939-B
The Media Access Control (MAC) layer or data link layer of the OSI
reference model is the interface to higher software levels. The MAC layer
provides an asynchronous data delivery service that is equivalent to the
service provided by Ethernet. It is a best effort datagram delivery service with
low delay that supports typical LAN applications such as file access, client/
server applications, printing, and e-mail.
A laptop computer with a BayStack 650 PC Card and network software
installed.
The Microsoft Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) defines a
hardware-independent MAC layer network device driver. The BayStack NDIS
driver conforms to version 3 of this specification.
The software that makes it possible for a network adapter card such as the
BayStack 650 PC Card to operate on a network.
(NOS) The software that provides management of local area network
operations and services. Examples of network operating systems are
Microsoft Windows NT and Novell NetWare.
A seven layer scheme describing the various functions required for network
and computer communications. OSI stands for Open Systems Interconnection,
which is the International Standards Organization's (ISO) program for
standardization of data communications.
The Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) is
a standards organization that has developed standards for a PC card that
fulfills the same function as the AT bus on standard desktop computers—it
provides universal, non-proprietary expansion capability.
A network consisting only of workstations and peripheral devices, with no
centralized, dedicated server. An example of peer-to-peer network operating
system is Microsoft Windows 95. In BayStack 600 Wireless LAN networks, if
a peer-to-peer network does not include access to a wired network through a
BayStack access point it is called an ad hoc or standalone network.
See Ad hoc network and server-based network.
The lowest level of the OSI reference model for data communications.
It includes transmission media such as cabling or, in the case of BayStack 600
Wireless LAN products, radio waves. BayStack 600 Wireless LAN
technology has been designed to provide a level of reliability at the physical
level comparable to that of wired LAN adapters.
One of up to 10 groups of access points that you can quickly access using the
Configure and Actions menu in AP manager.
Glossary
Glossary-3