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Appendix C Glossary
Address mask
A bit mask used to select bits from an Internet address for subnet addressing. The mask is
32 bits long and selects the network portion of the Internet address and one or more bits of
the local portion. Sometimes called subnet mask.
AAL5
ATM Adaptation Layer - This layer maps higher layer user data into ATM cells, making the
data suitable for transport through the ATM network.
ADSL
Asymmetric digital subscriber line
ATM
Asynchronous Transfer Mode - A cell-based data transfer technique in which channel
demand determines packet allocation. ATM offers fast packet technology, real time, demand
led switching for efficient use of network resources.
AWG
American Wire Gauge - The measurement of thickness of a wire
Bridge
A device connects two or more physical networks and forwards packets between them.
Bridges can usually be made to filter packets, that is, to forward only certain traffic. Related
devices are: repeaters which simply forward electrical signals from one cable to the other,
and full-fledged routers which make routing decisions based on several criteria.
Broadband
Characteristic of any network multiplexes independent network carriers onto a single cable.
Broadband technology allows several networks to coexist on one single cable; traffic from
one network does not interfere with traffic from another. Broadcast A packet delivery system
where a copy of a given packet is given to all hosts attached to the network. Example:
Ethernet.
CO
Central Office. Refers to equipment located at a Telco or service provider's office.
CPE
Customer Premises Equipment located in a user's premises
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
DHCP is software that automatically assigns IP addresses to client stations logging onto a
TCP/IP network. DHCP eliminates having to manually assign permanent IP addresses to