Switch User's Guide

Glossary
CSX400 and CSX400-DC User’s Guide 253
IP — Internet protocol. A network layer protocol which allows a packet to traverse multiple
networks on the way to its final destination.
IP Address — Internet address. A 32-bit address assigned to devices that participate in a network
using TCP/IP. An IP address consists of four octets separated with periods defining network,
optional subnet and host sections.
IPX (Internet Packet Exchange) — A proprietary Network layer protocol developed by Novell
and used in NetWare networks.
ISDN — Integrated Services Digital Network. Digital transmission standard defining
communication protocols permitting telephone networks to carry data, voice, fax and other
streams.
Leased Line — A telecommunications line between two service points leased from a
communications carrier for private use, usually incurring a monthly service rate.
LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) — Type of indicator lights on the panel of a device.
Local Area Network (LAN) — A network connecting computers over a relatively small
geographic area (usually within a single campus or building).
MAC Layer/Address — Media Access Control layer/address defined by the IEEE 802.3
specification which defines media access including framing and error detection. Part of the OSI
reference model Data Link layer.
Metric — An algorithm used by routers to determine the best path for transmitting packets to a
remote destination based on considerations such as time, delay, cost, etc.
Modem — Modulator/Demodulator. A device that converts digital signals to/from analog signals
for transmission over analog communications lines.
Multi-Link Protocol — A protocol, defined in RFC 1717, that defines a way to perform inverse
multiplexing on the TCP/IP point-to-point protocol (PPP); i.e., the ability to use multiple serial
WAN channels for transferring one datastream. With MLP, a user can send and receive data over
both B channels in an ISDN basic-rate interface connection
NAT — Network Address Translation uses a unique IP address for a WAN interface. This IP
Address is negotiated through PPP or assigned statically by the Internet Service Provider (ISP).
NAT reduces the number of unique IP addresses for all clients using a particular WAN interface to
one.