3Com OfficeConnect 3CR856-95 User Manual page 84

information or sharing resources. Networks vary in size, some are
within a single room, others span continents.
Network Interface Card (NIC)
A circuit board installed into a piece of computing equipment,
for example, a computer, that enables you to connect it to the
network. A NIC is also known as an adapter or adapter card.
Protocol
A set of rules for communication between devices on a network.
The rules dictate format, timing, sequencing and error control.
PPPoE
Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet. Point-to-Point Protocol
is a method of secure data transmission originally created for
dial-up connections; PPPoE is for Ethernet connections.
PPTP
Point-to-Point Tunnelling Protocol. PPTP is a simple VPN
encryption protocol based on the Point to Point protocol. It is
most frequently used to connect remote PCs to private networks.
RJ-45
A standard connector used to connect Ethernet networks. The
"RJ" stands for "registered jack".
Server
A computer in a network that is shared by multiple end stations.
Servers provide end stations with access to shared network
services such as computer files and printer queues.
Subnet Address
An extension of the IP addressing scheme that allows a site to
use a single IP network address for multiple physical networks.
Subnet mask
A subnet mask, which may be a part of the TCP/IP information
provided by your ISP, is a set of four numbers configured like an
IP address. It is used to create IP address numbers used only
within a particular network (as opposed to valid IP address
numbers recognized by the Internet, which must assigned by
InterNIC).
Subnets
A network that is a component of a larger network.
Switch
A device that interconnects several LANs to form a single logical
LAN that comprises of several LAN segments. Switches are similar
to bridges, in that they connect LANs of a different type;
however they connect more LANs than a bridge and are
generally more sophisticated.
TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. This is the
name for two of the most well-known protocols developed for
the interconnection of networks. Originally a UNIX standard,
TCP/IP is now supported on almost all platforms, and is the
protocol of the Internet.
TCP relates to the content of the data travelling through a
network — ensuring that the information sent arrives in one
piece when it reaches its destination. IP relates to the address of
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