4-Port ADSL Router User Manual

Terminology
186
binary
The base two system of numbers, that uses only two digits,
0 and 1, to represent all numbers. In binary, the number 1 is
written as 1, 2 as 10, 3 as 11, 4 as 100, etc. Although expressed
as decimal numbers for convenience, IP addresses in actual
use are binary numbers; e.g., the IP address 209.191.4.240
is 11010001.10111111.00000100.11110000 in binary. See
also bit, IP address, network mask.
bit
Short for binary digit. A bit is a number that can have two values,
0 or 1. See also binary.
bps
Bits per second
bridging
Passing data from your network to your ISP and vice versa using
the hardware addresses of the devices at each location. Bridging
contrasts with routing, which can add more intelligence to data
transfers by using network addresses instead. The ADSL
Barricade
can perform both routing and bridging. Typically, when
both functions are enabled, the device routes IP data and bridges
all other types of data. See also routing.
broadband
A telecommunications technology that can send different types of
data over the same medium. DSL is a broadband technology.
broadcast
To send data to all computers on a network.
CO
(Central Office)
A circuit switch that terminates all the local access lines in a
particular geographic serving area. It is a physical building where
the local switching equipment is found. xDSL lines running from
a subscriber's home connect at their serving central office.