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Glossary 35
Glossary
LED See light emitting diode.
light emitting diode A small
light on a device that is often used
to provide status information.
link beat A periodic signal
transmitted in Ethernet and
IEEE 802.3 Type 10Base-T
networks to inform one station of
device of the presence of another. It
also helps verify the integrity of
the network link between them.
(Also called “link test pulse”.)
local area network A general-
purpose communications network
that interconnects a variety of
devices within a limited
geographical area. A LAN might
connect computers on adjacent
desks, within a building, or within
several buildings of a campus.
M
MAC address See station
address.
Mbits/ Megabits per second
defined as (1,000,000 bits per
second).
medium, media The
transmission connection between
nodes. Most current LANs use
cables (fiber-optic or copper),
although radio and other broadcast
media are possible.
N
node A station; a physical device
that allows for the transmission of
data within a network.
P
packet A bit stream consisting of
predefined fields that contain data,
addresses, and control
information. In the IEEE 802.3
environment this structure is often
referred to as the ‘MAC frame”.
Packet is the more commonly used
term, and originated in the
Ethernet environment.
Precision Bus See HP-PB.
protocol The set of rules
governing the operation of
functional units of a
communication system that must
be followed if communication is to
be achieved.