3Com PS Hub 40 User Manual page 172

2 G
LOSSARY
Ethernet
HTTP
Internet
Intranet
IP address
IPX
LAN
learnt address
line speed
load balancing
A LAN specification developed jointly by Xerox, Intel and Digital
Equipment Corporation (DEC). Ethernet networks operate at 10Mbps
using CSMA/CD to run over cabling.
HyperText Transfer Protocol. The client/server protocol used to connect
servers on the World Wide Web.
The name given to a public network which spans the world and
consists of thousands of pieces of network equipment. If you connect
to the Internet, you can communicate with equipment and users across
the world. The Internet uses a set of protocols called TCP/IP. The World
Wide Web is part of the Internet.
The name given to a large private network. Many businesses have
Intranets so their employees can exchange information between offices
in many countries. Employees are often given access to the Internet but
the Intranet is protected from external access by 'firewalls' (security
restrictions imposed on incoming traffic).
Internet protocol address. A unique identifier for a device attached to a
network using TCP/IP. The address is written as four octets separated
with full-stops (periods), and is made up of a network section, an
optional subnet section and a host section.
Internetwork Packet Exchange. A protocol allowing communication in a
NetWare network.
Local Area Network. A network of connected computing resources (for
example workstations, printers, servers) covering a relatively small
geographic area (usually not larger than a floor or building).
Characterized by high data rates and low error rates.
An address in the switch database that has been learnt (stored) by the
segment switch. Unused learnt addresses are removed from the switch
database by the ageing process.
See baud rate.
The process of configuring the segments in a stack of hubs so that
utilization is balanced across all the segments in the stack. This
produces more efficient segments, by distributing traffic evenly.