0-9

10BaseT - 10BaseT is the implementation of the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard on unshielded twisted-pair wiring. It uses a star topology, with stations directly connected to a multi-port hub. It runs at 10Mbits/sec, and it has a maximum segment length of 100 meters.

3G - The next generation of wireless technology beyond personal communications services. The World Administrative Radio Conference assigned 230 megahertz of spectrum at 2 GHz for multimedia 3G networks. These networks must be able to transmit wireless data at 144 kilobits per second at mobile user speeds, 384 kbps at pedestrian user speeds and 2 megabits per second in fixed locations. The International Telecommunication Union seeks to coordinate 3G standards through its International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 project. Last month, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute agreed to work on a long-term solution combining the time division/code division multiple access and wideband CDMA standards.

A

Access router - An access device with built-in basic routing protocol support, specifically designed to allow remote LAN access to corporate backbone networks. Not designed to replace backbone routers or to build backbone networks.

Alphanumeric - A display, message or readout that contains both letters and numbers. Synonymous with text paging or messaging.

AMPS (advanced mobile phone service) - The analog cellular standard.

Analog - A way of sending voice, video, or data that is "analogous" to the original signal. Analog transmission is associated with voice and data signals over conventional telephone lines. (Contrast with digital).

API (application programming interface) - An API is a series of functions or calls that programs can use to make the operating system do their dirty work. Using Windows APIs, for example, a program can open windows, files, and message boxes--as well as perform more complicated tasks--by passing a single instruction. Windows has several classes of APIs that deal with telephony, messaging, and other issues. See also: 3D API, MAPI

AppleTalk - Apple Computer's proprietary local area network for linking Apple computers and peripherals.

Application - Functional system made up of software, hardware, or combination of both that performs some useful task. Database managers, spreadsheets, word processors, videoconferencing systems, LANs, fax machines, etc., are examples of applications.

ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) - This portion of the TCP/IP protocol maps an IP address to the physical address (Ethernet Address) of the PC that it is on, helping to identify PCs on an Ethernet LAN.See also Ethernet and TCP/IP.

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) - Every upper case and lower case letter in the Latin, or Western, alphabet, is represented by a seven digit number with various sequences of 1's or zeroes. When it receives a text message from a remote computer, the modem translates these binaries into words that appear on your screen.

ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) - A high bandwidth, controlled-delay fixed-size packet switching and transmission system. Uses fixed-size packets also known as "cells." ATM is often referred to as "cell relay." An information transfer standard that is one of a general class of packet technologies that relay traffic by way of an address contained within the first five bytes of a standard fifty-three-byte-long packet or cell. The ATM format can be used by many different information systems, including local area networks, to deliver traffic at varying rates, permitting a mix of voice, data and video (multimedia).ATM will provide the basis for future broadband ISDN standards. Speeds can range up to six gigabits per second.

B

Backbone - The part of the communications network intended to and designed to carry the bulk of traffic. Provides connectivity between sub-networks in an enterprise-wide network. The through-portions of a transmission network, as opposed to spurs which branch off the through-portions.

Backbone Router - Routers designed to be used to construct backbone networks using leased lines. Typically do not have any built-in digital dial-up WAN interfaces. Typical manufacturers include Cisco, Wellfleet, 3Com, CrossCom, etc.

Backup - The process of creating a copy of computer data on an external storage medium, such as a floppy disk, tape, or external hard drive. If the external storage medium is remotely located, some form of data communications channel must be established between sites.

Bandwidth - is the relative range of analog frequencies or digital signals that can be passed through a transmission medium, such as glass fibers, without distortion. The greater the bandwidth, the greater the information carrying capacity. Bandwidth is measured in Hertz (analog) or Bits Per Second (digital). Every communications link, such as phone signals or cable television channels, has a range of frequencies assigned to it. The same principle applies to intranet and internet transmissions, especially through remote connections. The greater the bandwidth, the more capable the multimedia technology.

Bandwidth-on-demand - A Pipeline 25 feature that reduces costs by automatically determining whether or not a second ISDN B-Channel is necessary during data transfer. For example, the Pipeline 25 evaluates the percent of usage on a single ISDN B-Channel (in a data transfer). If the utilization exceeds 90% for a specified length of time, the Pipeline 25 automatically brings up the second B-channel to speed up the transfer. Then it reverts back to one B-channel when two are no longer necessary.

Bit - Contraction of the term "BInary digiT". The smallest unit of information a computer can process, representing one of two states (usually indicated by "1" and "0"). For example, that the letter "p" will have seven bits, or binary components.

BONDING (Bandwidth On Demand Interoperability Group) - A consortium of over 40 data communications equipment vendors and service providers who joined together to create a standardized inverse multiplexing protocol so that inverse multiplexers from different vendors could interoperate. Also refers to the resultant specification, sometimes known as the BONDING specification.

BPS (Bits per second) - another indicator of modem speed. Because a letter has seven bits, a 14,400 bps modem will handle as much as 1,800 bytes per second. Because there are spaces between words and modem line quality can fluctuate and the actual figure is often somewhat lower.

Branch Office - A smaller remotely located office separate from corporate headquarters facilities.

Bridge - A bridge connects two networks of the same access method, for example, Ethernet to Ethernet or Token Ring to Token Ring. A bridge works at the OSI's Media Access Control layer, and is transparent to upper-layer devices and protocols. Bridges operate by filtering or forwarding packets according to their destination addresses. Most bridges automatically learn where these addresses are located, and thus are called learning bridges.

Broadband - A way of transmitting large amounts of data, voice, and video that is greater than standard voice grade transmission. In ISDN, broadband channels support rates above the primary rate (1.544 Mbps or 2.048 Mbps).

Broadband PCS - Synonymous with personal communications services created in the A- through F-Block auctions and used for voice and data.

Browser - An intranet or internet software application such as Netscape 3.0 or Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 that reads and then "translates" a page on a user's computer screen. Depending on how the page was written and on the browser's capabilities, the page may be viewed as straight text, as a web page with graphics, or a page with additional sound and motion video presentation capabilities. In brief, a browser is your interface to the World Wide Web; it interprets hypertext links and lets you view sites and navigate from one Internet node to another. Among the companies that produce browsers are NCSA Mosaic, Netscape, and Microsoft, as well as commercial services like CompuServe, Prodigy, and America Online.

Bundling - Grouping various telecommunications services--wireline and/or wireless--as a package to increase the appeal to potential customers and reduce advertising, marketing and other expenses associated with delivering multiple services. For example, a bundled package could include long distance, cellular, Internet and paging services.

Bytes - A collection of bits that form one letter or punctuation mark.

C

CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) - A computer and its related software and terminals used to design and manufacture things. CAD terminals are often run over LANs and/or WANs.
CAP (competitive access provider) - Access services provided by a company other than a LEC, RBOC, or AT&T that is authorized to provide such service.

Capacity - is the highest possible transmission speed that can be carried on a channel; can be expressed as raw speed or net throughput.

Central Site - A location that acts as a data collection point for remote and branch offices, as well as telecommuters and travelers.

CGI (Common Gateway Interface) - The CGI standard lays down the rules for running external programs in a Web HTTP server. External programs are called gateways because they open up an outside world of information to the server. These are electronic mail or other utilities that when accessed, pull up a screen that allows users to transfer information. If, for example, you are using your intranet to conduct an employee survey, installing a CGI enabled form would be a good idea.

Challenge/response - An authentication technique where a server sends a random challenge to the user, who computes a response using some form of authentication token.

Channel - A transmission path between two points. It is usually the smallest subdivision of a transmission system by means of which a single type of communications service is provided.

CHAP (Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol) - This security protocol allows access between data communications systems prior to and during data transmission. CHAP uses challenges to verify that a user has access to a system.

Client - A software program that lets you access a remote computer. The customer side of a client/server setup. To confuse matters, when you log on to a server, the word client can refer to you, to your computer, or to the software running on your computer. For example, to download something from an ftp site, you use ftp client software.

Clone - A wireless phone programmed with stolen or duplicated electronic serial and mobile identification numbers.

CMRS (commercial mobile radio service) - An FCC designation for any carrier or licensee whose wireless network is connected to the public switched telephone network and/or is operated for profit.

CO (Central Office) - A telephone company facility that joins subscriber telephone lines to switching equipment. This allows subscribers to connect to one another, through local and long distance connections.

Codec (COder-DECoder) - In the videoconferencing world, a video codec converts analog video signals from a video camera to digital signals for transmission over digital circuits, and then converts the digital signals back to analog signals for display. In the audio world, an audio codec converts analog audio signals to digital signals for transmission over digital circuits, and then converts the digital signals back to analog signals for reproduction.

Content virus - A form of intrusion in which the attack is encoded in seemingly innocuous data, and it is executed by a user or other software to implement an attack.

CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) - Terminal equipment located on the customer premises which connects to the telephone network.

Crossover cable - A cable with wires that "cross over," so the terminating ends of the cable have opposite wire assignments. (Contrast with straight-through cable).

CSU (Channel service unit) - A device used to connect a digital phone line coming in from the phone company to network access equipment located on the customer premises. A CSU may also be built into the network interface of the network access equipment.

CTI (computer-telephony integration) - The integration of telephony function with computer applications.

D

Database - A database can be as simple as a shopping list or as complex as a collection of thousands of sounds, graphics, and related text files. Database software is designed to help users organize such information. While early "flat" databases were limited to simple, searchable rows and columns, modern relational databases allow users to access and reorganize data in a variety of ways. Even more advanced databases let users store and retrieve all kinds of nonstandard data, from sound clips to video.

DCE (Data Communications Equipment) - As defined in the RS-232 specification, equipment to which DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) is connected, often to enable access to network facilities. DCE refers to equipment such as network access equipment while DTE refers to application equipment such as a videoconference terminal.

DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) - links data from one application to another (i.e. if you change the data in an Excel Spreadsheet a Word document including a graph based on that data automatically changes)

Denial-of-service attack - A user or program takes up all the system resources, leaving no resources for other users or services by launching a multitude of requests.

DES (data encryption standard) - DES is a block encryption method originally developed by IBM. It has since been certified by the U.S. government for transmission of any data that is not classified top secret. DES uses an algorithm for doing private-key encryption. The key consists of 64 bits of data, which are transformed and combined with the first 64 bits of the message to be sent. To do the encryption, the message is broken up into 64-bit blocks so that each can be combined with the key using a complex 16-step process. Though DES is fairly weak, with only one iteration, repeating it using slightly different keys can provide excellent security.

DHTML (dynamic HTML) - Dynamic HTML combines HTML, style sheets, and scripts to make Web pages more interactive. It sounds great. But while both Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 and Netscape Communicator 4.0 support dynamic HTML features, they do so in different--and incompatible--ways. The companies say they will work to make their browsers compatible with whatever specification the W3C finally decides upon. However, the browsers may be in their fifth generation before users see a concrete standard.
Digital - Describes a method of storing, processing and transmitting information through the use of distant electronic or optical pulses that represent the binary digits 0 and 1. Digital transmission/switching technologies employ a sequence of discrete, distinct pulses to represent information, as opposed to the continuously variable analog signal. Digital transmission offers faster speeds, better accuracy, and more flexibility than analog transmission. (Contrast with analog).

Digital Dial-Up Bandwidth - Communications channels created by signaling to the network from the caller's site the intended destination of the connection. These channels may be terminated when the caller or called party chooses. The user pays for the bandwidth only when it is used. Digital Dial-Up Bandwidth operates in a fashion similar to the dialed voice telephone network but the resultant connections are digital and of specified bandwidths.

Digital Modem - A system component which allows communication over digital access facilities with a remotely located system connected to the public network over analog facilities. Converts incoming digital data stream containing PCM-encoded modem waveform into actual data contained in waveform at data rate transmitted by far-end modem; performs inverse function for outgoing data stream.

Digital signal processor - A microprocessor that digitizes analog signals.

Disaster Recovery - The use of alternative network circuits to re-establish communications channels in the event that the primary channels are disconnected or malfunctioning.

DNS spoofing - Assuming the DNS name of another system by either corrupting the name service cache of a victim system or by compromising a domain name server for a valid domain.

Domain Name - An intranet or internet address. For example, http://www.intranetics.com/

DS0 - A 64 kbit/s unit of transmission bandwidth. A worldwide standard speed for digitizing one voice conversation, and more recently, for data transmission. Twenty-four DS0's (24x64 kbit/s) equal one DS1.

DS1 - A 1.544 Mbit/s unit of transmission bandwidth in North America, and a 2.048 Mbit/s unit of transmission elsewhere. A telephony term describing a 1.544 or 2.048 Mbit/s digital signal carried on a T1 facility.

DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) - As defined in the RS-232 specification, equipment to which DCE (Data Communications Equipment) is connected, such as personal computers or data terminals. DTE refers to application equipment, such as a videoconference terminal or LAN bridge or router, while DCE refers to equipment such as network access equipment.

Dual-homed gateway - A system that has two or more network interfaces, each of which is connected to a different network. In firewall configurations, a dual-homed gateway usually acts to block or filter some or all of the traffic trying to pass between the networks.

Dual mode - Describes a handset that works on both analog and digital networks.

Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation - The process of determining current traffic loads over a channel, and automatically increasing or decreasing the bandwidth of the channel to optimize overall utilization efficiency.

E-F

Electronic commerce - Transactions that can be performed over the intranet or internet.

Email (electronic mail) - Whenever you send messages to people using a computer and they read it later, you've sent a piece of email. You can send email in several ways--across a local area network, via the Internet, or through an online service like CompuServe or America Online--and you can send it to a single recipient or to a whole slew of them. But all email behaves pretty much the same way: you send it to a virtual mailbox, and the recipient has to pick it up or can use software that does it automatically.

Encryption - The process of coding sensitive data so that it cannot be read except by authorized users. If you want to send executive level electronic mail over your intranet, you may want to encrypt it to avoid interception.

End-to-End service - Interexchange service that connects one user site with another usually through an intermediary interexchange carrier.

Ethernet - Ethernet is a standard for connecting computers into a local area network (LAN). The most common form of Ethernet is called 10BaseT, which denotes a peak transmission speed of 10 mbps using copper twisted-pair cable.

Ethernet transceiver - is an Ethernet device that connects workstations to standard thick or thin Ethernet-style cable. This device sends and receives information and often offers data packet collision detection.

Extranet - An intranet that is connected to another intranet via TCP/IP. Usually used to connect to a company's customers and suppliers. Companies often use an extranet to provide nonpublic information to a select group of people, such as business partners or customers. So while an extranet may look like an ordinary Web site, you have to enter a password or use digital encryption to access it. For example, Federal Express's customers can track packages on the company's extranet by simply entering a tracking number. And Bank of America's extranet lets users transfer funds or look up account balances online. Using an extranet can help companies save money by allowing customers to find information themselves, without having to call and talk to a person.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) - a collection of questions and answers describing the site's purpose, content and how users can navigate around it.

FDDI (Filter Distributed Data Interchange) - a LAN protocol like Ethernet

Firewall - A software program running on a server that protects a collection of computers from access by unauthorized outside parties. If you want to protect any networked server from damage (intentional or otherwise) by those who log in to it, you put up a firewall. This could be a dedicated computer equipped with security measures such as a dial-back feature, or it could be software-based protection called defensive coding.

FLEX - A Motorola Inc.-licensed protocol that gives carriers more capacity on their networks and faster transmission times. Also refers to the FLEX family of protocols: FLEX, InFLEXion and ReFLEX.
Fractional T1 - A service offering data rates between 64 kbit/s (DS0 rate) and 1.536 Mbit/s (DS1 rate), in specified intervals of 64 kbit/s.

Frame - A segment of a digital signal that has a repetitive characteristic in that corresponding elements of successive frames represent the same things. In a time-division multiplex system, a frame is a sequence of time slots, each containing a sample from one of the channels served by the multiplex system; the frame is repeated at the sampling rate, and each channel occupies the same sequence position in successive frames.

Frame Relay - A form of packet switching, but using smaller packets and less error checking than traditional forms of packet switching (such as X.25). Now a new international standard for efficiently handling high- speed, bursty data over wide area networks. A high-speed, data-packet switching service used to transmit data between computers. Frame Relay supports data units of variable lengths at access speeds ranging from 56 kilobits per second to 1.5 megabits per second. This service is well-suited for connecting local area networks, but is not presently well suited for voice and video applications due to the variable delays which can occur. Frame Relay was designed to operate at high speeds on modem fiber optic networks.

Full Duplex -Simultaneous two-way communication path.

G-H

Gateway - A gateway is a program or piece of hardware that passes data between networks. You'll see this term most often when you either log in to an Internet site or when you're passing email between different servers.

Gbps - Gigabits per second, which is a measurement of speed for digital signal transmission expressed in billions of bits per second.

GPS (global positioning system) - A series of 24 geosynchronous satellites that continuously transmit their position. Used in personal tracking, navigation and automatic vehicle location technologies.

GSM (global system for mobile communications) - A digital cellular or PCS network used throughout the world.

Host - A company that uses and makes accessible the information and utilities on an intranet or web site. Some even design and prepare content.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) - As its name suggests, HTML is a collection of formatting commands that create hypertext documents--Web pages, to be exact. When you point your Web browser to a URL, the browser interprets the HTML commands embedded in the page and uses them to format the page's text and graphic elements. HTML commands cover many types of text formatting (bold and italic text, lists, headline fonts in various sizes, and so on), and also have the ability to include graphics and other non-text elements.

HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) - a communications sequence for transferring documents over intranets or the internet.

Hub - A hub or concentrator is a multiport repeater that brings together the connections from multiple network nodes. Modular concentrators have moved beyond their origins as wire concentration centers, and often house bridges, routers, and network-management devices. Some hubs are stackable, which usually implies that they have an external backplane that permits multiple units to be connected together without taking up a "repeater hop" or using one of the ports.

Hybrid Private/Public networking - The creation of a network using both private leased lines and public switched facilities (digital dial-up bandwidth). The goals of combining both networking technologies are increased performance and flexibility at reduced cost.

Hypertext - An underlined word or phrase linked to another intranet page or web site. When you click the underlined passage, your browser whisks you to the site.

I

IEC. Inter Exchange Carrier - Common carrier providing communications channels between local telephone companies (LECs, or Local Exchange Carriers). Also known as long distance carriers, such as AT&T, MCI, Sprint, WilTel, etc.

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) - An organization that maintains the standards for 10BaseT and other communications standards.
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IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) - IMAP provides a means of managing email messages on a remote server, similar to the POP protocol. But IMAP offers more options than POP, including the ability to download only message headers, create multiuser mailboxes, and build server-based storage folders.

In-band signaling - Signaling made up of tones or defined bits which pass within the data transmission stream. Tones sent over digital circuits are encoded into digital PCM bursts and sent as digital data within the data channel.

Internet -The Internet originated in 1969, in the midst of the Cold War, as a "nuke-proof" communications
network. As you might guess, it received most of its early financing from the U.S. defense department. Now, however, it consists of countless networks and computers across the world that allow millions of people to share information. The lines that carry the majority of the information are known as the Internet backbone. While the government used to run things, now major Internet service providers (ISPs) such as MCI, GTE, Sprint, UUNET, and ANS own portions of the backbone.

Intranet - A network, generally operating within an enterprise such as a corporation. Intranets are
mostly closed to outside access, but operate with the same features and elements as public network, internet sites. A play on the word Internet, an intranet is a restricted-access network that works like the Web, but isn't on it. Usually owned and managed by a corporation, an intranet enables a company to share its resources with its employees without confidential information being made available to everyone with Internet access.

Inverse multiplexing - Several combined, lower-speed circuits that make up one circuit for greater bandwidth. Inverse multiplexing also pulls together and synchronizes multiple channels at the receiving end of data, voice, or video transmission.

IP address - Inter-network Protocol Address or Internet Address. A unique number assigned by an Internet authority that identifies a computer on the Internet. The number is four groups of numbers separated by three periods (dots), each between 0 and 255. For example, 195.112.56.75 is an IP address. See also IP subnet.

IP hijacking - An attack where an active, established session is intercepted and taken over by the attacker.

IP spoofing - An attack where a system attempts to illicitly impersonate another system by using its IP network address.

IP subnet - Internet Protocol Subnet. An IP subnet or subnet mask is a way to subdivide a network into smaller networks, so you can have a greater number of computers on a network with a single IP address. The IP subnet is a number that you append to the IP address. For example, 195.112.56.75/14, 195.112.56.75/15, and 195.112.56.75/16 are all IP addresses with subnets of 14, 15, and 16.

IPX (Internet Packet eXchange) - NetWare's native LAN communications protocol, which can run over Ethernet or Token Ring LANs.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) - A system that provides simultaneous voice and high-speed data transmission through a single channel to the user's premises. ISDN is an international standard for end-to-end digital transmission of voice, data, and signaling.

ISDN Multi-rate - A network-based ISDN service which allows users network access equipment to dial network channels of bandwidth in increments of 64 kbit/s, up to 1536 kbit/s. Access to ISDN Multi-rate service is obtained over ISDN PRI lines.

ISP Internet Service Provider - A company that provides business and consumers with access to the internet. Some will also design and/or maintain intranets.

J-K-L

Java - A programming language that allows web sites to transfer mini- programs or applets to browsers.

Kbps - Kilobits per second, which is a measurement of speed for digital signal transmission expressed in thousands of bits per second.

Key System - An office telephone system that provides all users with immediate access to outside
lines when they press one or two dedicated keys without needing operator's services. For example, a six-button key system could have a hold button, four outside lines and an intercom. Key systems typically have fewer lines and telephones than a PBX system. A key system can also be used with a PBX or Centrex system.

LAN (local area network) - A local area network is a short-distance network used to link a group of computers and peripherals together within a single facility or campus. 10BaseT Ethernet is the most commonly used form of LAN. A piece of hardware called a hub serves as the common wiring point, enabling data to be sent from one machine to another over the network. LANs are typically limited to distances of less than 500 meters and provide low-cost, high-bandwidth networking capabilities within a small geographical area.

LAN Internetworking - The reach of local area networks (LANs) to other networks, so users can get access to other applications. Bridges and routers are the devices that typically accomplish the task of joining LANs.

Leased Lines - A circuit rented for exclusive use twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week from a telephone company. The connection exists between two predetermined points and cannot be switched to other locations.

LEC (Local Exchange Carrier) - Local telephone company, providing connections between local points or to long distance carriers for extended connections. Examples are Pacific Bell in California, Ameritech in Illinois, GTE in Hawaii, etc.

Local Loop - A circuit that connects an end user to the LEC central office within a LATA.

Local Loopback - Loopback performed between an application and network access equipment. The signal is sent from the application to the network access equipment and back to the application without being sent out over the network.

Loopback - A diagnostic test or test state in which the transmitted signal is returned to the sending device after passing through a communications link or network.

M

MAC (Medium Access Control Protocol) - Resolves packet conflicts within a HDX network to allow information to travel smoothly.

Mailto - A hyperlink at the end of a web or intranet page that, when clicked, triggers a browser's electronic mail program.

MAPI (Messaging Application Programming Interface) - Microsoft and other companies developed MAPI (pronounced "mappy") to enable Windows apps to access a variety of messaging systems, from Microsoft Mail to Novell's MHS. But MAPI works on a more everyday level, too: so-called mail-aware applications can exchange both mail and data with others on a network.

MAX (Media Access Exchange) - The Ascend MAX is a system-level network access unit, with a cage and backplane into which Multiband or Pipeline cards can be inserted to configure it for various application requirements. It supports up to 32 host ports or direct Ethernet connection and up to 8 Mbit/s to the network. It supports multiple applications, including remote LAN access, leased line backup and individual videoconferencing units, as well as connecting videoconference MCUs to the digital dial-up network.

MIB (Management Information Base) - A directory listing the logical names of all information resources residing in a network and pertinent to the network's management. A key element of SNMP management systems.

Middleware - Middleware is the "mix and match" communications software that acts as a universal translator between diverse radio frequency technologies and protocols. Middleware physically resides on the remote client and on a communications server, located between the client and the applications server. The software eases computing and communicating with corporate information and encourages applications development, making wireless data more attractive to corporate customers.

MIME (multipurpose Internet mail extensions) - MIME has absolutely nothing to do with Marcel Marceau. It's a way to extend the power of Web browsers to handle graphics, sound, multimedia--anything but text. (Remember, HTML handles nothing but text--everything else is an extension.) MIME is also used for binary email attachments. Browsers recognize MIME types in categories and file types, separated by a slash (such as image/gif). If you've registered a MIME type, the browser decodes the file and launches a helper application.

MPP (Multichannel Point-to-Point protocol) - A protocol similar to PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) but operable over multiple network channels in an inverse multiplexed scenario. Developed by Ascend Communications.
Multiband - The name of a product family of network access equipment manufactured by Ascend Communications.

Multiband LSU - LAN Service Unit. The Ascend Multiband LSU is a member of the Ascend Multiband product family. It allows LAN bridges and routers to be interconnected, creating WANs, using a combination of dedicated leased circuits and digital dial-up circuits. By creating such hybrid networks, users can match bandwidth to real-time traffic loads, saving money and maximizing performance.

Multiplexing - An electronic or optical process that combines a large number of lower speed lines into common bit stream for longer distance/high speed transmission. It can occur in one of two ways.
(1) frequency division - by splitting the total available bandwidth into narrower bands or (2) time division - by allotting a common channel to several different transmitting devices, one at a time in sequence.
Multiplexing - The process of combining a number of individual channels into a common frequency band or into a. The converse equipment or process for separating a multiplexed stream into individual channels is called demultiplexer.

Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) - Videoconferencing equipment which allows multiple individual videoconference units to connect together to form a multi-party videoconference session.

MUX. Multiplex or Multiplexer - A device that performs multiplexing.

N-O

NAMPS (narrowband advanced mobile phone system) - NAMPS combines cellular voice processing with digital signaling, increasing the capacity of AMPS systems and adding functionality.

Narrowband PCS - The next generation of paging networks, including two-way, acknowledgment and "wireless answering machine" paging.

Node - Generic label for devices that access a network.

ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity) - is an Application Programming Interface (API) that allows a programmer to abstract a program - from a database. When writing code to interact with a database, you usually have to add code that talks to a particular database using a proprietary language. If you want your program to talk to an Access, Fox and Oracle databases you have to code your program with three different database languages. This can be quite the daunting task causing much grief. Now, enter ODBC...When programming to interact with ODBC you only need to talk the ODBC language (a combination of ODBC API function calls and the SQL language). The ODBC Manager will figure out how to contend with the type of database you are targeting. Regardless of the database type you are using, all of your calls will be to the ODBC API. All that you need to do is have installed an ODBC driver that is specific to the type of database you will be using.

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) - Makers of products (e.g., computer hardware) that often partner with other technology companies (e.g., software) through bundle deals.

Out-of-band signaling - Signaling that is separated from the channel carrying the information and sent over an independent ("out of band") channel.

Overflow - The process of dialing additional bandwidth to accommodate peak traffic loads, and reducing the total bandwidth during times of reduced traffic loads.

P

PAP (Password Authentication Protocol) - A security protocol that uses password protection to allow access to a network or host.

PBX (private branch exchange) - A Customer Premise Communication Switch used to connect customer telephones (and related equipment) to LEC central office lines (trunks), and to switch internal calls within the customer's telephone system. Modern PBXs offer numerous software-controlled features such as call forwarding and call pickup. A PBX uses technology similar to that used by a central office switch (on a smaller scale). (The acronym PBX originally stood for "Plug Board Exchange".)

PCMCIA - developed a standard for a credit card-sized adapter, called a 'PC Card' that does for notebook and other portable computers what the AT bus did for desktop PCs - provide universal, non-proprietary expansion capability.

Perl - The de facto programming language of the internet.

Pipeline - The name of an Ascend product family of network access equipment with integrated remote LAN access capabilities. Pipeline allows remotely located branch offices, telecommuters, or traveling computer users to access corporate backbone LAN resources.

Point-To-Multipoint - A circuit that connects a single node to a switch.

Point-To-Point - Non-switched, dedicated communication circuit.

POP (point of presence) - The physical access location interface between a local exchange carrier and an Interexchange Carrier fiber network. The point to which the telephone company terminates a subscriber's circuit for long distance service or leased line communications.

PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) - A protocol that allows single nodes to access a LAN backbone network constructed of leased lines and routers. Often used for dial-up remote LAN access.

PRI, ISDN PRI (Primary Rate Interface) - An ISDN subscriber line, consisting of twenty-three 64 kbit/s B channels in North America (thirty 64 kbit/s channels elsewhere) and one 64 kbit/s D channel, used for signaling purposes.

Private Network - A communications network with restricted (controlled) access. Usually made up of private lines (with some PBX switching). They are usually operated by a single corporate entity, made up of dedicated lines leased from the carriers, and switching equipment located on the corporate premises.

Protocol - A given series of characters that can be exchanged among programs to enable delivery and receipt of information, such as transmission of email and intranet pages.

PSDN (Public Switched Digital Network) - Term used to describe the set of digital dial-up services offered by carriers (IECs and LECs).

PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) - Term used to describe the set of analog dial-up services offered by carriers (IECs and LECs).

PTT (Postal, Telegraph, and Telephone agencies) - nationally owned telephone companies in foreign countries where telecommunications competition has not yet arrived.

Public Network - A network operated by the carriers (IECs and LECs) which includes network-based services and network-based switching.

Q-R

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) - bomb proof backup systems

Remote Access - See Remote LAN Access.

Remote LAN Access - The process of allowing branch offices, telecommuters, and traveling computer users to access the corporate LAN backbone over dedicated or dialed, digital or analog lines.

Remote Loopback - Loopback performed between an application and remotely located access equipment or application. The signal is sent from the application over the network to the remote access equipment or application, from where it is looped back to the originating equipment.

Repeater - Devices that receive a signal, amplify it and re-transmit it in a new direction. Used in wireless networks to extend the range of base station signals, thereby expanding coverage--within limits--more economically than by building additional base stations. Repeaters typically are used for buildings, tunnels or difficult terrain. Also used in wireline communications to clean up and regenerate a signal for longer distance travel.

Router - A router is a network-layer device (layer 3 under the OSI model) that connects networks that use the same network-layer protocol, for example TCP/IP or IPX. A router uses standardized protocols, such as RIP, to move packets efficiently to their destination. A router provides greater control over paths and greater security than a bridge; however, it is more difficult to set up and maintain. By comparison, a bridge is a protocol-ignorant media access layer device (layer 2) that connects two networks that use the same access method, such as Ethernet to Ethernet or Token Ring to Token Ring.

Router interfaces - Routers typically interface with a variety of data and telephony services. LAN interfaces typically include Ethernet (commonly 10BaseT and 10Base2), Fast Ethernet (100BaseT), 100VG-AnyLAN, Token Ring, or FDDI. Low-speed WAN support includes ISDN BRI (basic rate interface) and PRI (primary rate interface), HSSI (high-speed serial interface), and E-1/T-1 leased-line interfaces. Faster backbone or campus WAN interfaces might include various standards ranging from E-3/T-3 to SONET (Synchronous Optical Network). ATM interfaces to watch for are RFC 1577 (which specifies IP over ATM) and RFC 1483 (for multiprotocol transmission over ATM).

Routing - A device or setup that finds the best route between any two networks, even if there are several networks to traverse. (Contrast with bridge).

RS-232 - A set of EIA standards specifying various electrical and mechanical characteristics for interfaces between DTE and DCE data communications devices. The standard applies to both synchronous and asynchronous binary data transmission at rates below 64 kbit/s.

Rubber Bandwidth - A term used to describe a communications channel whose bandwidth can be increased or decreased without terminating and re-establishing the channel. Typically used with inverse multiplexing.

S

Screening router - A router configured to permit or deny traffic based on a set of permission rules installed by the administrator.

Server - A computer and/or software program that contains information stored on your site.

Smart card - A plastic card containing important data about a person's identity to allow access to a network or premises. Also, a card containing subscriber information, often inserted into GSM phones for roaming to different countries.

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) - A protocol governing network management and monitoring of network devices and their functions. Originally developed in the TCP/IP environment.

Social engineering - An attack based on deceiving users or administrators at the target site. Social engineering attacks are typically carried out by telephoning users or operators and pretending to be an authorized user to attempt to gain illicit access to systems.

SOHO (small office/home office) - A market that consists of individuals that work some of their time at home and some of their time in an office.

SONET (Synchronous Optical Network Technology) -An electronics and network architecture for variable-bandwidth products which enables transmission of voice, data and video (multimedia) at very high speeds.

SONET ring -A network architecture which provides for instantaneous restoration of service in the event of a fiber cut by automatically rerouting traffic the other direction around the ring. This occurs so rapidly (in 50 milliseconds) it is virtually undetectable to the user.

Store-and-forward architecture - when the whole frame must be received and then transmission out of the destination port can begin

Straight-through cable - A cable with wires that have terminating ends with the same wire assignments.

Streaming - Sound and video that are broadcast over an intranet or web site in real (actual rather than delayed) time, instead of requiring that you download and play these back only after download has been completed.

Switched Service Carriers - A carrier that sells switched long distance service and generally refers to a carrier that owns its switch.

Switched Services - processing and routing calls

Switchless resellers - A carrier that does not own facilities or switches, but purchases minutes in high volumes from other carriers and resells those minutes.

T-U

T1 - A digital transmission link with a capacity of 1.544 Mbit/s, used in North America. Typically channelized into 24 DS0s, each capable of carrying a single voice conversation or data stream. Uses two pairs of twisted pair wires.

T3 - A digital transmission link with a capacity of 45 Mbit/s, or 28 T1 lines.

Tariff - Documents filed by a regulated telephone company with a state public utility commission or the Federal Communications Commission. Document details services, equipment, and pricing publicly offered by the telephone company.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - A set of protocols that link dissimilar computers across networks. TCP/IP is popular because you can connect computers and networking equipment to a variety of other systems and protocols. The software that makes it possible for computers and networks to connect to the intranet or internet.

Telecommuter - A work-at-home computer user who connects to the corporate LAN backbone using remote access technologies (i.e., using a modem over analog lines, ISDN TA over ISDN lines, or CSU/DSU over switched 56 lines).

TELNET - Terminal-to-remote host protocol developed for ARPAnet. It is the TCP/IP protocol governing the exchange of character- oriented terminal data.

Thick Ethernet - A term that describes a type of Ethernet cable. Thick Ethernet, or thicknet, is .4" diameter coaxial cable for Ethernet networks.

Thin Ethernet - A term that describes a type of Ethernet cable. Thin Ethernet, or thinnet, is .2" diameter coaxial cable for Ethernet networks.

Transceiver - A transceiver is a device for transmitting and receiving packets between the computer and the wire. The transceiver is usually integrated directly onto the network adapter card.

Trojan horse - A software entity that appears to do something normal but which, in fact, contains a trapdoor or attack program.

Trunk - A high-capacity communications channel between two switches.

Tunneling router - A router or system capable of routing traffic by encrypting it and encapsulating it for transmission across an untrusted network, for eventual de-encapsulation and decryption.

U interface - n. The electrical interface between an ISDN telephone line and a network terminator (NT1) device.

U-interface - adj. Specifies an ISDN communications device that connects directly to an ISDN telephone line. A U-interface device contains its own network terminator (NT1).

URL (Uniform Resource Locator) - web site address.

UTP cable (Unshielded Twisted Pair cable) - Two paired wires with wire twisted two or more times per inch to help cancel out noise.

V-W-X

VAR (value-added reseller) - Companies that package solutions around products they sell.

Videoconferencing - The use of digital video transmission systems to communicate between sites using video and voice. Digital video transmission systems typically consist of camera, codec (coder-decoder), network access equipment, network, and audio system.

Virus - A self-replicating code segment. Viruses may or may not contain attack programs or trapdoors.

VPN (virtual private network) - Switched network with special services like abbreviated dialing. A customer can call between offices in different area codes without having to dial all eleven digits.

VSAN (voice services over alternate networks) - Voice over ATM, Frame Relay, IP, Internet

VSU (Video Service Unit) - See Multiband VSU.

VT-100 - An ASCII character data terminal, consisting of screen and keyboard. Manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), the VT-100 has become an industry standard data terminal. VT-100 emulation software allows a standard PC to act as a VT-100 terminal.

WAN (Wide Area Network) - A data network typically extending a LAN outside a building or beyond a campus, over IXC or LEC lines to link to other LANs at remote sites. Typically created by using bridges or routers to connect geographically separated LANs. WANs are slower than LANs but have the capacity to serve as a communications "backbone."

WATS (Wide-Area Telecommunications Service) - Flat rate, or special rate pay-by-the-minute (measured) billing for a specified calling area. May be outbound or inbound (e.g. 800).

W-CDMA (wideband code division multiple access) - Considered the third or next generation of CDMA technology.

WCS (wireless communications services) - Frequencies in the 2.3 GHz band designated for general fixed wireless use and auctioned earlier this year.

WIN (wireless intelligent network) - The architecture of the wireless switched network that allows carriers to provide enhanced and customized services for mobile telephones.

Windows CE - Software platform for handheld personal computers, developed by Microsoft Corp.

Wireless Internet - An RF-based service that provides access Internet e-mail and/or the World Wide Web.

Wireless LAN (local area network) - The radio-frequency connection of an office-based computer network.

Wireless PBX - Equipment that allows employees or customers within a building or limited area to use wireless handsets connected to an office's private branch exchange system.

WLL (wireless local loop) - A fixed service that competes with or substitutes for local wireline phone service.

WWW - World Wide Web

X.21 - A set of CCITT specifications for an interface between DTE and DCE for synchronous operation on public data networks. Includes connector, electrical, and dialing specifications.