Campbell Scientific NL100 Network Link Interface - Manual (Page 39)

Glossary
Beacon Interval - Devices in a PakBus network may broadcast a message to
other devices, in order to determine "neighbor" devices. Neighbor devices are
devices that can be communicated with directly by the current device without
being routed through an intermediate device. A beacon in a PakBus network
helps to ensure that all devices in the network are aware of which other devices
are viable in the network.
If configured to do so, a clock set command may be transmitted with the
beacon interval. This function can be used to synchronize the clocks of devices
within the PakBus network.
MODBUS - MODBUS is a communications protocol developed by Modicon
which was designed to provide a common communications protocol among
intelligent devices in the manufacturing industry.
Neighbor (PakBus Neighbor) - Neighbor devices are devices that can be
communicated with directly by the current device without being routed
through an intermediate device.
PakBus - PakBus is a packet-based communications protocol developed by
Campbell Scientific. One of the advantages of PakBus is that other
communications protocol packets, such as TCP/IP or MODBUS, can be
"wrapped" in a PakBus packet and transferred among PakBus devices in the
network, thus allowing various communication protocols within one network.
Devices that are capable of PakBus communication include the CR10XTD-PB,
CR510TD-PB, CR23XTD-PB dataloggers, the RF400 modem, and the
NL100/105.
PakBus Node - A device in the PakBus network with a unique PakBus ID.
The device can be a datalogger, a computer, or an NL100/105.
Serial Server - A serial server is a device that allows serial communication
over a TCP/IP communications link.