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SECTION 5
5-6
M
MAC Address
The Media Access Control address is a unique, 48-bit value
permanently saved in the ROM at the factory to identify each
Ethernet network device. It is expressed as a sequence of 12
hexadecimal digits printed on the unit's label. You need to
provide the MAC Address to the cable service provider. Also
called an Ethernet address, physical address, hardware address,
or NIC address.
MB
One megabyte; equals 1,024 x 1,024 bytes, 1,024 kilobytes, or
about 8 million bits.
Mbps
Million bits per second (megabits per second). A rate of data
transfer.
MTU
The Maximum Transmission Unit is the largest amount of data
that can be transmitted in one discrete message on a given
physical network. The MTU places an upper bound on the size of
a message that can be transferred by the network in a single
frame. Messages exceeding the MTU must be fragmented before
transmission, and reassembled at the destination.
Multicast
A data transmission sent from one sender to multiple receivers.
See also broadcast and unicast.
N
NAT
Network Address Translation is an Internet standard for a LAN to
use one set of IP addresses for internal traffic and a second set
of IP addresses for external traffic. NAT provides some security
because the IP addresses of LAN computers are invisible on the
Internet.
Network
Two or more computers connected to communicate with each
other. Networks have traditionally been connected using some
kind of wiring.
NIC
A Network Interface Card converts computer data to serial data in
a packet format that it sends over the LAN. A NIC is installed in
an expansion slot or can be built-in. Every Ethernet NIC has a
MAC address permanently saved in its ROM.
SECTION 5, GLOSSARY
GLOSSARY
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