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7000 Series L3 Managed Switch Reference Manual for Software v2.0
C-14 Glossary
Learning
The bridge examines the Layer 2 source addresses of every frame on the attached networks (called listening)
and then maintains a table, or cache, of which MAC addresses are attached to each of its ports.
Link-State
In routing protocols, the declared information about the available interfaces and available neighbors of a
router or network. The protocol's topological database is formed from the collected link-state declarations.
Load balancing
The ability to distribute traffic across various ports of a device, such as a switch, to provide efficient,
optimized traffic throughout the network.
Local Area Network
A communications network serving users within a limited area, such as one floor of a building. A LAN
typically connects multiple personal computers and shared network devices such as storage and printers.
Although many technologies exist to implement a LAN, Ethernet is the most common for connecting
personal computers and is limited to a distance of 1,500 feet. LANs can be connected together, but if
modems and telephones connect two or more LANs, the larger network constitutes what is called a WAN or
Wide Area Network.
Loop
An event that occurs when two network devices are connected by more than one path, thereby causing
packets to repeatedly cycle around the network and not reach their destination.
M
MAC
(1) Medium Access Control. In LANs, the sublayer of the data link control layer that supports
medium-dependent functions and uses the services of the physical layer to provide services to the logical
link control (LLC) sublayer. The MAC sublayer includes the method of determining when a device has
access to the transmission medium. (2) Message Authentication Code. In computer security, a value that is a
part of a message or accompanies a message and is used to determine that the contents, origin, author, or
other attributes of all or part of the message are as they appear to be. (IBM Glossary of Computing Terms)
MAC address
The Media Access Control address is a unique 48-bit hardware address assigned to every network interface
card. Usually written in the form 01:23:45:67:89:ab.
Management Information Base
When SNMP devices send SNMP messages to the management console (the device managing SNMP
messages), it stores information in the MIB.