SMC Networks SMCWAA-B - Manual (Page 48)

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IP Address - IP stands for Internet Protocol. An IP address consists of a series of
four numbers separated by periods, that identifies an single, unique Internet
computer host. Example: 192.34.45.8.
ISP - Internet Service Provider. An ISP is a business that provides connectivity to
the Internet for individuals and other businesses or organizations.
JPEG – Joint Photographic Experts Group. JPEG is a standard for compressing
still images and it provides compression with ratios up to 100:1. File extensions
are .JPG or .JPEG.
LAN - A communications network that serves users within a confined
geographical area. It is made up of servers, workstations, a network operating
system and a communications link. Servers are high-speed machines that hold
programs and data shared by network users. The workstations (clients) are the
users' personal computers, which perform stand-alone processing and access the
network servers as required.
Diskless and floppy-only workstations are sometimes used, which retrieve all
software and data from the server. Increasingly, "thin client" network computers
(NCs) and Windows terminals are also used. A printer can be attached locally to
a workstation or to a server and be shared by network users. Small LANs can
allow certain workstations to function as a server, allowing users access to data
on another user's machine. These peer-to-peer networks are often simpler to
install and manage, but dedicated servers provide better performance and can
handle higher transaction volume. Multiple servers are used in large networks.
The message transfer is managed by a transport protocol such as TCP/IP and
NetBEUI. The physical transmission of data is performed by the access method
(Ethernet, Token Ring, etc.), which is implemented in the network adapters that
are plugged into the machines. The actual communications path is the cable
(twisted pair, coax, optical fiber) that interconnects each network adapter.
MAC Address - MAC (Media Access Control) A MAC address is the hardware
address of a device connected to a network.
MDI / MDI-X - Medium Dependent Interface - Also called an "uplink port," it is a
port on a network hub or switch used to connect to other hubs or switches
without requiring a crossover cable. The MDI port does not cross the transmit
and receive lines, which is done by the regular ports (MDI-X ports) that connect
to end stations. The MDI port connects to the MDI-X port on the other device.
There are typically one or two ports on a device that can be toggled between
MDI (not crossed) and MDI-X (crossed).