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edge switch 2/16 service manual Glossary–7
Glossary
Bps
Bytes per second.
bridge
(1) An attaching device that connects two local area network (LAN) segments to allow the
transfer of information from one LAN segment to the other. A bridge can connect the LAN
segments directly by network adapters and software in a single device, or can connect network
adapters in two devices through software and use of a telecommunication link between the two
adapters. (2) A functional unit that connects two LANs that use the same logical link control
protocol, but may use different media access control protocols (T). Contrast with router. (3) A
device that connects and passes packets between two network segments that use the same
communications protocol.
bridge port
B_Port. (1) In Fibre Channel protocol, a fabric inter-element port used to connect bridge
devices with E_Ports on a switch. B_Ports provide a subset of E_Port functionality. (2) A term
for a physical interface between the fabric (switch) and a bridge device. The interface is
identical to an expansion port (E_Port), but it does not participate in full expansion port
protocols. As such, it does not assign domain IDs or participate in routing protocol. See also
expansion port; fabric port; generic port; node port; segmented expansion port.
British thermal unit
Btu. The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one
degree Fahrenheit (D).
broadband
Large bandwidth communications channel capable of multiple, parallel high-speed
transmissions.
broadcast
In Fibre Channel protocol, to send a transmission to all node ports (N_Ports) on a fabric. See
also broadcast frame.
broadcast frame
In Fibre Channel protocol, a frame whose destination address specifies all node ports
(N_Ports) in the fabric. See also broadcast.
Btu
See British thermal unit.
buffer
Storage area for data in transit. Buffers compensate for differences in processing speeds
between devices. See buffer-to-buffer credit.