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GLOSSARY 133
LAN Local Area Network. A network of end stations (such as PCs, printers,
servers) and network devices (hubs and switches) that cover a relatively
small geographic area (usually not larger than a floor or building). LANs
are characterized by high transmission speeds over short distances (up to
1000 metres).
MAC Media Access Control. A protocol specified by the IEEE for determining
which devices have access to a network at any one time.
MAC Address Media Access Control Address. Also called the hardware or physical
address. A Layer 2 address associated with a particular network device.
Most devices that connect to a LAN have a MAC address assigned to
them as they are used to identify other devices in a network. MAC
addresses are 6 bytes long.
NAT Network Address Translation. NAT enables all the computers on your
network to share one IP address. The NAT capability of the Router allows
you to access the Internet from any computer on your home network
without having to purchase more IP addresses from your ISP.
Network A network is a collection of computers and other computer equipment
that is connected for the purpose of exchanging information or sharing
resources. Networks vary in size, some are within a single room, others
span continents.
Network Interface
Card (NIC)
A circuit board installed into a piece of computing equipment, for
example, a computer, that enables you to connect it to the network. A
NIC is also known as an adapter or adapter card.
Protocol A set of rules for communication between devices on a network. The
rules dictate format, timing, sequencing and error control.
PPPoE Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet. Point-to-Point Protocol is a method
of data transmission originally created for dial-up connections; PPPoE is
for Ethernet connections.
PPTP Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol is a method of secure data transmission
between two remote sites over the Internet.