Extreme Networks Summit WM User Manual page 314

Glossary
Term
MAC address
MIB
MIC
MTU
MU
multicast, broadcast,
unicast
NAS
NAT
Netmask
NIC
NMS
314
Explanation
Media Access Control address. A hardware address that uniquely identifies
each node of a network.
Management Information Base is a formal description of a set of network
objects that can be managed using the Simple Network Management
Protocol (SNMP). The format of the MIB is defined as part of the SNMP. A
MIB is a collection of definitions defining the properties of a managed
object within a device. Every managed device keeps a database of values
for each of the definitions written in the MIB. Definition of the MIB
conforms to RFC1155 (Structure of Management Information).
Message Integrity Check or Code (MIC), also called "Michael", is part of
WPA and TKIP. The MIC is an additional 8-byte code inserted before the
standard 4-byte integrity check value (ICV) that is appended in by
standard WEP to the 802.11 message. This greatly increases the difficulty in
carrying out forgery attacks.
Both integrity check mechanisms are calculated by the receiver and
compared against the values sent by the sender in the frame. If the values
match, there is assurance that the message has not been tampered with.
(See WPA, TKIP and ICV).
Maximum Transmission Unit. The largest packet size, measured in bytes,
that a network interface is configured to accept. Any messages larger than
the MTU are divided into smaller packets before being sent.
Mobile Unit, a wireless device such as a PC laptop.
Multicast: transmitting a single message to a select group of recipients.
Broadcast: sending a message to everyone connected to a network. Unicast:
communication over a network between a single sender and a single
receiver.
Network Access Server, a server responsible for passing information to
designated RADIUS servers and then acting on the response returned. A
NAS-Identifier is a RADIUS attribute identifying the NAS server.
(RFC2138)
Network Address Translator. A network capability that enables a group of
computers to dynamically share a single incoming IP address. NAT takes
the single incoming IP address and creates new IP address for each client
computer on the network.
In administering Internet sites, a netmask is a string of 0's and 1's that
mask or screen out the network part of an IP address, so that only the host
computer part of the address remains. A frequently-used netmask is
255.255.255.0, used for a Class C subnet (one with up to 255 host
computers). The ".0" in the "255.255.255.0" netmask allows the specific host
computer address to be visible.
Network Interface Card. An expansion board in a computer that connects
the computer to a network.
Network Management System. The system responsible for managing a
network or a portion of a network. The NMS talks to network management
agents, which reside in the managed nodes.
Summit WM User Guide, Software Version 5.3