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Glossary
124 EN/LZT 108 6492 R2 - October 2003
Packet
Data transmitted on a network consists of units called packets. Each packet
contains a payload (the data), plus overhead information such as where it
came from (source address) and where it should go (destination address).
PAP
Short for Password Authentication Protocol, the most basic form of
authentication, in which a user’s name and password are transmitted over a
network and compared to a table of name-password pairs. Typically, the
passwords stored in the table are encrypted.
PING
Short for Packet Internet (or Inter-Network) Groper. A program used to
verify whether the host associated with an IP address is online. It can also
be used to reveal the IP address for a given domain name.
Port
In TCP/IP and UDP networks, an endpoint to a logical connection. The port
number identifies what type of port it is. For example, port 80 is used for
HTTP traffic.
POTS
Short for Plain Old Telephone Service, which refers to the standard
telephone service that most homes use. The POTS network is also called
the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
PPP
Short for Point-to-Point Protocol. A protocol for serial data transmission that
is used to carry IP (and other protocol) data between your ISP and your
computer.
PPPoE
Acronym for Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet. PPPoE relies on two
widely accepted standards: PPP and Ethernet. PPPoE is a specification for
connecting the users on an Ethernet to the Internet through a common
broadband medium, such as a single DSL line, wireless device or cable
modem. All the users over the Ethernet share a common connection, so the
Ethernet principles supporting multiple users in a LAN combine with the
principles of PPP, which apply to serial connections.
Protocol
A set of rules governing the transmission of data. In order for a data
transmission to work, both ends of the connection have to follow the rules
of the protocol.
PVC
Short for Permanent Virtual Circuit, which is a logical point-to-point circuit
between customer sites. PVCs are low-delay circuits because routing
decisions do not need to be made along the way. Permanent means that