3Com 9000 SX User Manual page 171

G
LOSSARY
ageing The automatic removal of dynamic entries from the Switch Database
that have timed-out and are no longer valid.
ARP Address Resolution Protocol. The protocol used to dynamically bind
high-level IP addresses to low-level hardware addresses. ARP is used
only across a single physical network and is limited to networks that
support hardware broadcasts.
backbone The part of a network used as the primary path for transporting traffic
between network segments.
bandwidth Information capacity, measured in bits per second (bps), that a channel
can transmit. The bandwidth of Ethernet is 10 Mbps, the bandwidth of
Fast Ethernet is 100 Mbps, the bandwidth of Gigabit Ethernet is 1000
Mbps.
baud rate The switching speed of a serial line. Also known as line speed.
BOOTP A protocol that allows automatic mapping of an IP address to a given
MAC address each time a device is started. In addition, the protocol
can assign the subnet mask and default gateway to a device.
bridge A device that interconnects local or remote networks no matter what
higher-level protocols are involved. Bridges form a single logical
network.
broadcast A message sent to all destination devices on the network.
broadcast storm Multiple simultaneous broadcasts that typically absorb available
network bandwidth and can cause network failure.
console port The port on the Switch accepting a terminal or modem connector. It
changes the parallel arrangement of data within computers to the serial
form used on data transmission links. This port is most often used for
dedicated local management.