| id | term | description |
|---|
| 1 |
10BaseT |
A variant of Ethernet which allows stations to be attached via twisted pair cable. See also: Ethernet, twisted pair. |
| 2 |
802.x |
The set of IEEE standards for the definition of LAN protocols. See also: IEEE. |
| 3 |
822 |
See: RFC 822 |
| 4 |
:-) |
This odd symbol is one of the ways a person can portray "mood" in the very flat medium of computers--by using "smiley faces". This is "metacommunication", and there are literally hundreds of such symbols, from the obvious to the obscure. This particular example expresses "happiness". Don't see it? Tilt your head to the left 90 degrees. Smiles are also used to denote sarcasm. [Source: ZEN] |
| 5 |
abstract syntax |
A description of a data structure that is independent of machine- oriented structures and encodings. [Source: RFC1208] |
| 6 |
Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) |
The language used by the OSI protocols for describing abstract syntax. This language is also used to encode SNMP packets. ASN.1 is defined in ISO documents 8824.2 and 8825.2. See also: Basic Encoding Rules. |
| 7 |
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) |
Many transit networks have policies which restrict the use to which the network may be put. A well known example is NSFNET's AUP which does not allow commercial use. Enforcement of AUPs varies with the network. See also: National Science Foundation. |
| 8 |
Access Control List (ACL) |
Most network security systems operate by allowing selective use of services. An Access Control List is the usual means by which access to, and denial of, services is controlled. It is simply a list of the services available, each with a list of the hosts permitted to use the service. |
| 9 |
ACK |
See: Acknowledgment |
| 10 |
acknowledgment (ACK) |
A type of message sent to indicate that a block of data arrived at its destination without error. See also: Negative Acknowledgement. [Source: NNSC] |
| 11 |
ACL |
See: Access Control List |
| 12 |
AD |
See: Administrative Domain |
| 13 |
address |
There are three types of addresses in common use within the Internet. They are email address; IP, internet or Internet address; and hardware or MAC address. See also: email address, IP address, internet address, MAC address. |
| 14 |
address mask |
A bit mask used to identify which bits in an IP address correspond to the network and subnet portions of the address. This mask is often referred to as the subnet mask because the network portion of the address can be determined by the encoding inherent in an IP address. |
| 15 |
address resolution |
Conversion of an internet address into the corresponding physical address. |
| 16 |
Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) |
Used to dynamically discover the low level physical network hardware address that corresponds to the high level IP address for a given host. ARP is limited to physical network systems that support broadcast packets that can be heard by all hosts on the network. It is defined in RFC 826. See also: proxy ARP. |
| 17 |
Administrative Domain (AD) |
A collection of hosts and routers, and the interconnecting network(s), managed by a single administrative authority. |
| 18 |
Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) |
A pioneering longhaul network funded by ARPA (now DARPA). It served as the basis for early networking research, as well as a central backbone during the development of the Internet. The ARPANET consisted of individual packet switching computers interconnected by leased lines. See also: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. [Source: FYI4] |
| 19 |
agent |
In the client-server model, the part of the system that performs information preparation and exchange on behalf of a client or server application. [Source: RFC1208] |
| 20 |
alias |
A name, usually short and easy to remember, that is translated into another name, usually long and difficult to remember. |
| 21 |
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) |
This organization is responsible for approving U.S. standards in many areas, including computers and communications. Standards approved by this organization are often called ANSI standards (e.g., ANSI C is the version of the C language approved by ANSI). ANSI is a member of ISO. See also: International Organization for Standardization. [Source: NNSC] |
| 22 |
American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) |
A standard character-to-number encoding widely used in the computer industry. See also: EBCDIC. |
| 23 |
anonymous FTP |
Anonymous FTP allows a user to retrieve documents, files, programs, and other archived data from anywhere in the Internet without having to establish a userid and password. By using the special userid of "anonymous" the network user will bypass local security checks and will have access to publicly accessible files on the remote system. See also: archive site, File Transfer Protocol. |
| 24 |
ANSI |
See: American National Standards Institute |
| 25 |
API |
See: Application Program Interface |
| 26 |
Appletalk |
A networking protocol developed by Apple Computer for communication between Apple Computer products and other computers. This protocol is independent of the network layer on which it is run. Current implementations exist for Localtalk, a 235Kb/s local area network; and Ethertalk, a 10Mb/s local area network. [Source: NNSC] |
| 27 |
application |
A program that performs a function directly for a user. FTP, mail and Telnet clients are examples of network applications. |
| 28 |
application layer |
The top layer of the network protocol stack. The application layer is concerned with the semantics of work (e.g., formatting electronic mail messages). How to represent that data and how to reach the foreign node are issues for lower layers of the network. [Source: MALAMUD] |
| 29 |
Application Program Interface (API) |
A set of calling conventions which define how a service is invoked through a software package. [Source: RFC1208] |
| 30 |
archie |
A system to automatically gather, index and serve information on the Internet. The initial implementation of archie provided an indexed directory of filenames from all anonymous FTP archives on the Internet. Later versions provide other collections of information. See also: archive site, Gopher, Prospero, Wide Area Information Servers. |
| 31 |
archive site |
A machine that provides access to a collection of files across the Internet. An "anonymous FTP archive site", for example, provides access to this material via the FTP protocol. See also: anonymous FTP, archie, Gopher, Prospero, Wide Area Information Servers. |
| 32 |
ARP |
See: Address Resolution Protocol |
| 33 |
ARPA |
See: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency |
| 34 |
ARPANET |
See: Advanced Research Projects Agency Network |
| 35 |
AS |
See: Autonomous System |
| 36 |
ASCII |
See: American Standard Code for Information Interchange |
| 37 |
ASN.1 |
See: Abstract Syntax Notation One |
| 38 |
assigned numbers |
The RFC [STD2] which documents the currently assigned values from several series of numbers used in network protocol implementations. This RFC is updated periodically and, in any case, current information can be obtained from the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). If you are developing a protocol or application that will require the use of a link, socket, port, protocol, etc., please contact the IANA to receive a number assignment. See also: Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, STD. [Source: STD2] |
| 39 |
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) |
A method for the dynamic allocation of bandwidth using a fixed- size packet (called a cell). ATM is also known as "fast packet". |
| 40 |
ATM |
See: Asynchronous Transfer Mode |
| 41 |
AUP |
See: Acceptable Use Policy |
| 42 |
authentication |
The verification of the identity of a person or process. [Source: MALAMUD] |
| 43 |
Autonomous System (AS) |
A collection of routers under a single administrative authority using a common Interior Gateway Protocol for routing packets. |
| 44 |
backbone |
The top level in a hierarchical network. Stub and transit networks which connect to the same backbone are guaranteed to be interconnected. See also: stub network, transit network. |
| 45 |
bandwidth |
Technically, the difference, in Hertz (Hz), between the highest and lowest frequencies of a transmission channel. However, as typically used, the amount of data that can be sent through a given communications circuit. |
| 46 |
bang path |
A series of machine names used to direct electronic mail from one user to another, typically by specifying an explicit UUCP path through which the mail is to be routed. See also: email address, mail path, UNIX-to-UNIX CoPy. |
| 47 |
baseband |
A transmission medium through which digital signals are sent without complicated frequency shifting. In general, only one communication channel is available at any given time. Ethernet is an example of a baseband network. See also: broadband, Ethernet. [Source: NNSC] |
| 48 |
Basic Encoding Rules (BER) |
Standard rules for encoding data units described in ASN.1. Sometimes incorrectly lumped under the term ASN.1, which properly refers only to the abstract syntax description language, not the encoding technique. See also: Abstract Syntax Notation One. [Source: NNSC] |
| 49 |
BBS |
See: Bulletin Board System |
| 50 |
BCNU |
Be Seein' You |
| 51 |
BER |
See: Basic Encoding Rules |
| 52 |
Berkeley Internet Name Domain (BIND) |
Implementation of a DNS server developed and distributed by the University of California at Berkeley. Many Internet hosts run BIND, and it is the ancestor of many commercial BIND implementations. |
| 53 |
Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) |
Implementation of the UNIX operating system and its utilities developed and distributed by the University of California at Berkeley. "BSD" is usually preceded by the version number of the distribution, e.g., "4.3 BSD" is version 4.3 of the Berkeley UNIX distribution. Many Internet hosts run BSD software, and it is the ancestor of many commercial UNIX implementations. [Source: NNSC] |
| 54 |
BGP |
See: Border Gateway Protocol |
| 55 |
big-endian |
A format for storage or transmission of binary data in which the most significant bit (or byte) comes first. The term comes from "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift. The Lilliputians, being very small, had correspondingly small political problems. The Big-Endian and Little-Endian parties debated over whether soft- boiled eggs should be opened at the big end or the little end. See also: little-endian. [Source: RFC1208] |
| 56 |
binary |
11001001 |
| 57 |
BIND |
See: Berkeley Internet Name Domain |
| 58 |
Birds Of a Feather (BOF) |
A Birds Of a Feather (flocking together) is an informal discussion group. It is formed, often ad hoc, to consider a specific issue and, therefore, has a narrow focus. |
| 59 |
Bitnet |
An academic computer network that provides interactive electronic mail and file transfer services, using a store-and-forward protocol, based on IBM Network Job Entry protocols. Bitnet-II encapsulates the Bitnet protocol within IP packets and depends on the Internet to route them. |
| 60 |
BOF |
See: Birds Of a Feather |
| 61 |
BOOTP |
The Bootstrap Protocol, described in RFCs 951 and 1084, is used for booting diskless nodes. See also: Reverse Address Resolution Protocol. |
| 62 |
Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) |
The Border Gateway Protocol is an exterior gateway protocol defined in RFCs 1267 and 1268. It's design is based on experience gained with EGP, as defined in STD 18, RFC 904, and EGP usage in the NSFNET Backbone, as described in RFCs 1092 and 1093. See also: Exterior Gateway Protocol. |
| 63 |
bounce |
The return of a piece of mail because of an error in its delivery. [Source: ZEN] |
| 64 |
bridge |
A device which forwards traffic between network segments based on datalink layer information. These segments would have a common network layer address. See also: gateway, router. |
| 65 |
broadband |
A transmission medium capable of supporting a wide range of frequencies. It can carry multiple signals by dividing the total capacity of the medium into multiple, independent bandwidth channels, where each channel operates only on a specific range of frequencies. See also: baseband. |
| 66 |
broadcast |
A special type of multicast packet which all nodes on the network are always willing to receive. See also: multicast. |
| 67 |
broadcast storm |
An incorrect packet broadcast onto a network that causes multiple hosts to respond all at once, typically with equally incorrect packets which causes the storm to grow exponentially in severity. |
| 68 |
brouter |
A device which bridges some packets (i.e., forwards based on datalink layer information) and routes other packets (i.e., forwards based on network layer information). The bridge/route decision is based on configuration information. See also: bridge, router. |
| 69 |
BSD |
See: Berkeley Software Distribution |
| 70 |
BTW |
By The Way |
| 71 |
Bulletin Board System (BBS) |
A computer, and associated software, which typically provides electronic messaging services, archives of files, and any other services or activities of interest to the bulletin board system's operator. Although BBS's have traditionally been the domain of hobbyists, an increasing number of BBS's are connected directly to the Internet, and many BBS's are currently operated by government, educational, and research institutions. See also: Electronic Mail, Internet, Usenet. [Source: NWNET] |
| 72 |
Campus Wide Information System (CWIS) |
A CWIS makes information and services publicly available on campus via kiosks, and makes interactive computing available via kiosks, interactive computing systems and campus networks. Services routinely include directory information, calendars, bulletin boards, databases. |
| 73 |
CCIRN |
See: Coordinating Committee for Intercontinental Research Networks |
| 74 |
CCITT |
See: Comite Consultatif International de Telegraphique et Telephonique |
| 75 |
CERT |
See: Computer Emergency Response Team |
| 76 |
checksum |
A computed value which is dependent upon the contents of a packet. This value is sent along with the packet when it is transmitted. The receiving system computes a new checksum based upon the received data and compares this value with the one sent with the packet. If the two values are the same, the receiver has a high degree of confidence that the data was received correctly. [Source: NNSC] |
| 77 |
circuit switching |
A communications paradigm in which a dedicated communication path is established between two hosts, and on which all packets travel. The telephone system is an example of a circuit switched network. See also: connection-oriented, connectionless, packet switching. |
| 78 |
client |
A computer system or process that requests a service of another computer system or process. A workstation requesting the contents of a file from a file server is a client of the file server. See also: client-server model, server. [Source: NNSC] |
| 79 |
client-server model |
A common way to describe the paradigm of many network protocols. Examples include the name-server/name-resolver relationship in DNS and the file-server/file-client relationship in NFS. See also: client, server, Domain Name System, Network File System. |
| 80 |
CNI |
See: Coalition for Networked Information |
| 81 |
Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) |
A consortium formed by American Research Libraries, CAUSE, and EDUCOM to promote the creation of, and access to, information resources in networked environments in order to enrich scholarship and enhance intellectual productivity. |
| 82 |
Comite Consultatif International de Telegraphique et Telephonique |
(CCITT) This organization is part of the United National International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and is responsible for making technical recommendations about telephone and data communications systems. Every four years CCITT holds plenary sessions where they adopt new standards; the most recent was in 1992. [Source: NNSC] |
| 83 |
Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) |
The CERT was formed by DARPA in November 1988 in response to the needs exhibited during the Internet worm incident. The CERT charter is to work with the Internet community to facilitate its response to computer security events involving Internet hosts, to take proactive steps to raise the community's awareness of computer security issues, and to conduct research targeted at improving the security of existing systems. CERT products and services include 24-hour technical assistance for responding to computer security incidents, product vulnerability assistance, technical documents, and tutorials. In addition, the team maintains a number of mailing lists (including one for CERT Advisories), and provides an anonymous FTP server, at "cert.org", where security-related documents and tools are archived. The CERT may be reached by email at "cert@cert.org" and by telephone at +1-412-268-7090 (24-hour hotline). See also: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, worm. |
| 84 |
congestion |
Congestion occurs when the offered load exceeds the capacity of a data communication path. |
| 85 |
connection-oriented |
The data communication method in which communication proceeds through three well-defined phases: connection establishment, data transfer, connection release. TCP is a connection-oriented protocol. See also: circuit switching, connectionless, packet switching, Transmission Control Protocol. |
| 86 |
connectionless |
The data communication method in which communication occurs between hosts with no previous setup. Packets between two hosts may take different routes, as each is independent of the other. UDP is a connectionless protocol. See also: circuit switching, connection-oriented, packet switching, User Datagram Protocol. |
| 87 |
Coordinating Committee for Intercontinental Research Networks (CCIRN) |
A committee that includes the United States FNC and its counterparts in North America and Europe. Co-chaired by the executive directors of the FNC and the European Association of Research Networks (RARE), the CCIRN provides a forum for cooperative planning among the principal North American and European research networking bodies. See also: Federal Networking Council, RARE. [Source: MALAMUD] |
| 88 |
core gateway |
Historically, one of a set of gateways (routers) operated by the Internet Network Operations Center at Bolt, Beranek and Newman (BBN). The core gateway system formed a central part of Internet routing in that all groups must advertise paths to their networks from a core gateway. [Source: MALAMUD] |
| 89 |
Corporation for Research and Educational Networking (CREN) |
This organization was formed in October 1989, when Bitnet and CSNET (Computer + Science NETwork) were combined under one administrative authority. CSNET is no longer operational, but CREN still runs Bitnet. See also: Bitnet. [Source: NNSC] |
| 90 |
cracker |
A cracker is an individual who attempts to access computer systems without authorization. These individuals are often malicious, as opposed to hackers, and have many means at their disposal for breaking into a system. See also: hacker, Computer Emergency Response Team, Trojan Horse, virus, worm. |
| 91 |
CRC |
See: cyclic redundancy check |
| 92 |
CREN |
See: Corporation for Research and Educational Networking |
| 93 |
CWIS |
See: Campus Wide Information system |
| 94 |
Cyberspace |
A term coined by William Gibson in his fantasy novel Neuromancer to describe the "world" of computers, and the society that gathers around them. [Source: ZEN] |
| 95 |
Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) |
A number derived from a set of data that will be transmitted. By recalculating the CRC at the remote end and comparing it to the value originally transmitted, the receiving node can detect some types of transmission errors. [Source: MALAMUD] |
| 96 |
DARPA |
See: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency |
| 97 |
Data Encryption Key (DEK) |
Used for the encryption of message text and for the computation of message integrity checks (signatures). See also: encryption. |
| 98 |
Data Encryption Standard (DES) |
A popular, standard encryption scheme. See also: encryption. |
| 99 |
datagram |
A self-contained, independent entity of data carrying sufficient information to be routed from the source to the destination computer without reliance on earlier exchanges between this source and destination computer and the transporting network. See also: frame, packet. [Source: J. Postel] |
| 100 |
DCA |
See: Defense Information Systems Agency |
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