3Com OfficeConnect 3CRWDR200A-75 User Manual page 121

G
LOSSARY
119
with periods (full-stops), and is made up of a network section, an
optional subnet section and a host section.
Internet Service Provider. An ISP is a business that provides
ISP
connectivity to the Internet for individuals and other businesses or
organizations.
Local Area Network. A network of end stations (such as PCs, printers,
LAN
servers) and network devices (hubs and switches) that cover a
relatively small geographic area (usually not larger than a floor or
building). LANs are characterized by high transmission speeds over
short distances (up to 1000 metres).
Media Access Control. A protocol specified by the IEEE for
MAC
determining which devices have access to a network at any one time.
Media Access Control Address. Also called the hardware or physical
MAC Address
address. A layer 2 address associated with a particular network device.
Most devices that connect to a LAN have a MAC address assigned to
them as they are used to identify other devices in a network. MAC
addresses are 6 bytes long.
Network Address Translation. NAT enables all the computers on your
NAT
network to share one IP address. The NAT capability of the Router
allows you to access the Internet from any computer on your home
network without having to purchase more IP addresses from your ISP.
A Network is a collection of computers and other computer equipment
Network
that are connected for the purpose of exchanging information or
sharing resources. Networks vary in size, some are within a single
room, others span continents.
A circuit board installed into a piece of computing equipment, for
Network Interface
example, a computer, that enables you to connect it to the network. A
Card (NIC)
NIC is also known as an adapter or adapter card.
A set of rules for communication between devices on a network. The
Protocol
rules dictate format, timing, sequencing and error control.