3Com OfficeConnect 3C855 User Manual page 76

76 G
LOSSARY
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 the end station to which data is being sent, as well as the
address of the destination network.
Traffic The movement of data packets on a network.
WAN Wide Area Network. A network that connects computers located in geographically
separate areas (for example, different buildings, cities, or countries). The Internet is
an example of a wide area network.
Wizard A Windows application that automates a procedure such as installation or
configuration.