3Com 520 - Manual (Page 86)

C-6 C H A P T E R C: G L O S S A R Y
MAN Metropolitan area network, a network that
covers a city.
MIB Management information base.
NETBIOS Network Basic Input/Output System, a
standard for supporting network communications
that is independent of the underlying network
transport type.
NetWare Novell’s Network Operating System (NOS)
line.
Network A method of connecting computers and
other devices together with cabling so that they can
communicate with each other.
NIC Network interface card, an expansion card that
enables a PC to communicate on a network.
Network layer The third layer of the OSI reference
model. This layer is responsible for controlling
message traffic.
NFS A network file system developed by Sun
Microsystems for shared files over a UNIX platform.
Node An alternative name for a computer or device
(such as a printer or modem) that is connected to a
network.
NOS Network operating system.
OSI Open Systems Interconnection, a body of
standards set by the International Standards
Organization to define the activities that must occur
when computers communicate. There are seven
layers, and each contains a specific set of rules to
follow at that point in the communication.
PAP Password Authentication Protocol. Part of the
PPP protocol to ensure authentication of the
connection between two devices.
Peer-to-peer network A network which contains
workstations which are able to act as both client and
client servers.
Piggyback A way of transmitting routing
information over ISDN lines by adding it to valid data
frames. This avoids ISDN calls being generated solely
for passing routing information.
Rc.bk : GLOSSARY.FRM Page 6 Thursday, July 10, 1997 9:53 AM