We don't know where you came from so you need to use your back button to return to the page you were on.

Glossary of Terms and Acronyms

1BASE5: Specification for StarLAN at 1 million bits per second data transfer rate.
10BASE2: Ethernet type network using thin coax. (Thin-net)
10BASE5: Ethernet type network using thick coax and similar to original Ethernet specification.
10BASE-T: Ethernet network specifying operation on twisted pair cabling.
10BROAD36: Ethernet on broadband cable.
2B+D: Describes basic ISDN service.
3090: Large IBM mainframe (circa 1986).
3270: IBM mainframe terminal.
3270 Data Stream: Format for transmitting data to a 3270 terminal.
3274: IBM controllers or cluster controllers.
3770: Protocol for SNA batch transmissions.
3COM 3+: Network operating system designed to supports PCs and Macs.
66-type Connecting Block: Used to terminate twisted pairs by telephone company. Not recommended for LAN use.
802: IEEE committee on LAN standards.
802.1: IEEE LANs and networking architecture specs.
802.1B: IEEE Network management specs.
802.1D: IEEE committee for bridges.
802.2: IEEE data link layer standards detailing logical link control (LLC).
802.3: IEEE standard for Ethernet-type systems.
802.4: IEEE standard for token passing system using a bus topology.
802.5: IEEE standard for token ring systems.
802.6: IEEE specifications for Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs).
802.7: IEEE standards for broadband LANs.
802.8: IEEE specs for fiber optic LANs.
802.9: IEEE specs for integrating voice and digital data.
802.10: IEEE specs for interoperable security.
802.11: IEEE standards for wireless LANs.
8514/A: High quality and high resolution monitor made by IBM.
A/D Converter: Analog to digital signal converter.
AARP: AppleTalk Address Resolution Protocol.
ABEND: ABnormal END. The kind of error you hate to see on a Novell NetWare file server. System is halted.
ABM: Asynchronous Balance Mode.
ABR: AutoBaud Rate Detect. Senses speed of incoming data.
AC: Access Control.
access method: The way in which data may pass onto a physical network medium.
ACF: Advanced Communications Function. Official product name for all IBM SNA products (i.e. ACF/VTAM).
ACK: Positive acknowledgment.
acknowledgment: A message indicating that data has been correctly received.
ACS: Asynchronous Communications Server.
ACSE: Association Control Service Element.
Active Open: A TCP tool for activating a connection with a node.
active star: Star topology with active hubs.
AD/Cycle: Application Development Cycle. SAA software from IBM to manage IS system development.
Adaptive Channel Allocation: Used in multiplexing signals. Bandwidth is only afforded a signal by request.
Adaptive Routing: Using intelligent methods for selecting routes for packet transmission.
ADC: Analog to digital converter.
ADCCP: ANSI's data link layer protocol called Advanced Data Communications Control Procedures.
address: The unique identifier for the source or destination of a data transfer.
ADE: Application Development Environment. IBM's universal application development package for SAA systems.
ADMD: Administration Management Domain.
ADSP: AppleTalk Datastream Protocol.
ADU: Asynchronous Data Unit.
ADVANCENET: Hewlett Packard's network supporting OSI and SNA.
AFI: AppleTalk Filing Interface.
AFP: AppleTalk File Protocol allows access to Apple shared servers.
AIN: Advanced Intelligent Network. Developed by Bell Communications Research.
AIX: Advanced Interactive Executive. IBM's answer to UNIX.
ALAP: AppleTalk Link Access Protocol
alias: Alternate name used for identification.
ALO: At Least Once
Altair System: Motorola's wireless radio LAN.
AM: Amplitude Modulation.
AMD: Advanced Micro Devices
AMI: Alternate Mark Inversion. Line coding method for T-1 lines.
AMT: Address Mapping Table.
analog: A signal that is "analogous" to naturally occurring phenomenon.
ANSI: American National Standards Institute. US standards-setting body and member organization if ISO and IEC.
ANTC: Advanced Network Test Center.
APAD: Asynchronous Packet Assembler/Disassembler.
API: Application Program Interface. Provides mechanism for interaction between applications.
APPC: Advanced Peer-to-Peer communications. IBM system for allowing direct node to node interaction on networks. Nodes referred to as LU 6.2.
Apple Computer, Inc.: Pioneers of personal computer. Manufacture Macintoshes with built-in LocalTalk ports for networking. Also developed AppleTalk protocols and AppleShare products.
AppleShare PC: Software that allows DOS-based machines to operate within an AppleShare network.
AppleTalk: Apple's proprietary upper layer protocols that support numerous network systems.
application layer: Highest layer of the OSI Model where user and application interface.
APPN: Advanced Peer-to-Peer Network. IBM's enhancement for SNA networks allowing distributed processing and other advanced features.
ARCnet: Attached Resources Computer network. Developed by Datapoint in the late 70's to provide data transfers at 2.5 Mbps. Very inexpensive products with great product interoperability.
ARM: Asynchronous Response Mode
ARP: Address Resolution Protocol. TCP/IP protocol which maps IP addresses to those of Ethernet or some other system.
ARPANET: Advanced Research Projects Agency NETwork. Network created by this agency under auspices of the US Dept. of Defense and predecessor to the global Internet.
AS/400: Application System/400. IBM's mid-price minicomputer.
ASCII: American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Seven bit data coding method for asynchronous communications.
ASCII Protocol: Simple protocol for transferring data with no error-checking.
ASE: Applied Service Elements
ASK: Amplitude Shift Keying
ASN.1: Abstract Syntax Notation One. OSI method of describing data formats for application layer.
ASP: AppleTalk Session Protocol
asynchronous: Sending and receiving devices are not synchronized. Data must carry signals to indicate data divisions.
asynchronous protocol: Protocol designed for async data transfers including ASCII, TTY, Kermit and XMODEM.
AT&T: American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Develops networks among other things.
ATA: ARCnet Trade Association
ATD: Asynchronous Time Division.
ATM: Asynchronous Transfer Mode. High bandwidth and low overhead networking system using something akin to packet-switching. It is the future of high-speed broadband networks.
ATP: AppleTalk Transaction Protocol
attenuation: The decrease in the power of some sort of signal.
AUI: Attachment Unit Interface. Transceiver for thick Ethernet systems.
AWG: American Wire Gauge. Used to measure the diameter of conductors in wires.
back up server: Device which copies applications and data into a safe place for retrieval if necessary.
backbone: A segment of a network that connects LANs together. Often fiber optic cabling is used for this purpose.
BALUN: An impedance matching device which allows conversion from one medium (like coax) to another medium (like twisted pair).
band: Range of frequencies.
bandwidth: The range of electrical frequencies that a device or medium can support.
baseband: A type of system where only digital data is carried on the transfer medium.
baud: The speed of signaling elements per second. A signaling element may represent more than one bit so bits per second and baud are not always the same.
beacon: A special frame in token ring systems indicating a serious problem with the ring such as a break.
Belden: A major manufacturer of network cabling.
BER: Basic Encoding Rules
Big Blue: Fond name for IBM.
binary: Numerical method of representing the status of bits. 1 represent an on bit and 0 is an off one.
bind: Assigning a physical machine address to a logical or symbolic address.
bindery: Novell NetWare's database for storing objects and properties. Objects are users, print servers, etc. Properties are like passwords, internet addresses, etc.
bipolar: Transmission method that alternates between positive and negative voltages to represent bits.
BISDN: Broadband ISDN.
bisync: Bisynchronous transmission. Half-duplex transmission method developed by IBM.
bit: Binary Digit.
bit stream: A continuous transfer of bits over some medium.
bit stuffing: A method of breaking up continuous strings of 1 bits by inserting a 0 bit. The 0 bit is removed at the receiver.
bit-oriented protocol: A protocol in which individual bits within a byte convey information as opposed to the whole byte only.
BNC: Bayonet-Neill-Concelman. A type of twist-locking connector used with coaxial cable.
BOC: Bell Operating Company. One of 22 telephone service companies that used to be a part of AT&T.
boundary node: A SNA device which provides protocol support for other SNA nodes.
BPS: Bits Per Second. A measure of data transfer speed.
BRI: ISDN Basic Rate Interface.
bridge: A network device that links similar or dissimilar LANs at the data link layer.
broadband: A system carrying many different types or channels of data by dividing the total bandwidth of the medium into smaller bandwidths (see FDM).
broadcast: Sending data to more than one receiving device at a time.
brouter: A device that combines the functions of a bridge and a router.
BSC: Binary Synchronous Transmission.
BSD UNIX: Berkeley Software Distribution UNIX or "Berkeley UNIX". Famed for having been enhanced with TCP/IP support.
BTRIEVE: Database management software provided by Novell, Inc. with its NetWare product.
buffer: A temporary storage place for data being received or transmitted.
bus topology: A physical layout of network devices in which all devices must share a common medium to transfer data, and no two devices may transmit simultaneously.
byte: A grouping of eight bits.
byte-oriented protocol: A protocol in which whole bytes represent data as opposed to single bits within the bytes, which taken by themselves are meaningless.
cable: Refers to a wire or group of wires containing usually containing metal or glass conductors.
CAD: Computer-Aided Design
CAM: Computer-Aided Manufacturing
capacitance: The capacity of a wire or device to store an electrical charge.
carrier: An electrical signal of a set frequency that can be modulated in order to carry data.
carrier detect: Circuit the detects the presence of a carrier.
CATV: Community Access Television.
CAU: Controlled Access Unit. Newer, more intelligent version of the token ring's multistation access unit (MAU).
CCITT: Consultative Committee on International Telegraphy and Telephony. Organization that sets communication standards.
CCS: Common Communications Support. Communication specifications used for SAA.
CD-ROM: Compact Disk - Read Only Memory.
CDDI: Copper Distributed Data Interface. The copper equivalent to fiber optic's FDDI.
character-oriented protocol: Protocol in which blocks of data are marked by special characters.
Cheapernet: Another name for thin Ethernet or 10BASE2 systems.
checkpoint: An event in a series of transactions that can be used to rollback transactions in the event of a failure. Also a HDLC error recovery mechanism.
checksum: A value created by adding up bits in a packet. The resultant value is computed at the sender and receiver of data. Mismatches will cause error-recovery routines to be followed.
CICS: Customer Information Central System.
cladding: A covering of glass or plastic surrounding a fiber optic core designed to prevent light waves from leaving the core.
client: A node on a network that requests services from a network server.
CLNP: Connectionless Network Protocol. From OSI.
CLNS: Connectionless Network Service. Also from OSI.
cluster controller: A device which handles input and output for several devices attached to it.
CMIP: Common Management Information Protocol. OSI protocol for network monitoring and control.
CMIS: Common Management Information System.
CMOT: CMIP Over TCP/IP.
CO: Central Office.
CONS: Connection Oriented Network Service.
coaxial cable: Metal cabling constructed such that one conductor serves as a shielding for the other. Insulation separates the two conductors and the shielding is coated by plastic for protection. Can carry lots of data, but is more expensive than twisted pair cabling.
codec: Coder/decoder. Converts analog signals into digital signals.
collision: When electrical signals from two or more devices sharing a common data transfer medium crash into one another. this commonly happens on Ethernet-type systems.
communications controller: A specialized device for connecting several communication lines to a single computer. It is usually purchased for a specific set of protocols.
communications server: A specialized device on a network to manage access to outside networks.
concentrator: A device that joins several communication channels together.
conductor: A material that can carry en electrical signal.
connection-oriented: A relationship is set up between sender and receiver to provide increased data transfer reliability.
connectionless: No relationship is set between sender and receiver for reliability's sake.
connectivity: The attachment of devices on a network. The devices may be similar or dissimilar.
consultant: An independent specialist who can save your neck or get you into trouble, but usually the former. Tries to make a living as best as possible. Needs your support and you need theirs. Hire one today.
contention: In reference to Ethernet-type systems. Devices contend for single data channel.
continuity: A non-interrupted pathway for electrical signals.
control character: A non-printing character that controls data flow.
COS: Corporation for Open Systems International. Champion of systems that follow international protocols.
counter-rotating ring: Technology used in FDDI to provide fault-tolerance.
CPE: Customer Provided Equipment.
crash: The dread of every system administrator.
CR: Carriage Return
CRC: Cyclical Redundancy Check. Used like checksum to detect errors in data transmissions.
crosstalk: The carryover of a signal in a wire to another wire near it. A potential problem in twisted pair systems.
CSMA CA or CD: Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance or Collision Detection. Methodology in which Ethernet systems allow devices to check for signals on the common medium and prevent collisions. Apple uses collision avoidance techniques while IEEE 802.3 specifies collision detection techniques.
CTS: Clear To Send signal used in the RS-232 standard.
CUA: Common User Access. SAA terminology.
current: The flow of electrons through a circuit. It is measured in amps.
D/A converter: Digital to analog converter.
DAC: Digital to analog converter.
DARPA: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Inventors of ARPANET.
DAP: Data Access Protocol.
DAS: Dynamically Assigned Sockets.
DAT: Digital Audio Tape.
data or Data: Raw facts, concepts or instructions organized in a manner that facilitates communication, interpretation or processing. Also the name of the Second Officer android on the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" series. Plural of datum.
data entry operator: The end result for system administrators who do not perform well.
data link layer: The second layer of the OSI Model that allows messages to be placed into packets and vice-versa. It controls data flow.
data set: Typically a modem.
data stream: Continuous flow of data from a source to a destination.
data structure: Physical layout of data such as fields.
database: A collection files containing data that are related and accessed by a database management program.
database server: A device set aside to assist in database storage and retrieval. The database itself is not necessarily stored in this machine.
datagram: A TCP/IP packet containing data and a source and destination address. It uses an unreliable delivery method.
dB: Decibel. A unit of relative change of power. (i.e. -10 dB)
DB-25: Twenty-five pin connector meeting RS-232 specs.
DB-9: Nine-pin connector.
DBMS: DataBase Management System.
DCE: Data Communications Equipment or Data Circuit-terminating Equipment. Technical term for a modem. Device that establishes, maintains and destroys a session on a network.
DDCMP: Digital Data Communications Message Protocol. Proprietary data link protocol from DEC.
DDN: Defense Department Network.
DDP: Datagram Delivery Protocol
dedicated line: Transmission line servicing only one type of data. Pathway is permanent.
de facto: A standard accepted by the marketplace, but not officially sanctioned by a standards organization.
de jure: An officially sanctioned standard.
demodulator: A device which removes a signal from a carrier for subsequent conversion to digital data. Modems do this.
DF: Don't Fragment.
DHA: Destination Hardware Address.
DIB: Directory Information Base.
DID: Destination IDentification.
digital data: Information that is digital (1s and 0s) in nature.
DNA: DEC's proprietary Digital Network Architecture.
distributed processing: The simultaneous execution of applications or portions of them on multiple processors.
DoD: Department of Defense.
DOS: Disk Operating System. From Microsoft, that little computer company in Redmond, WA.
DS: Directory Services.
DSA: Destination Software Address.
DSAP: Destination Service Access Point.
DSR: Data Set Ready.
DTE: Data Terminal Equipment. A PC hooked to a modem is an example of this. Defined in the RS-232 spec.
DTR: Data Terminal Ready.
DUA: Directory User Agent.
duplex: Simultaneous two-way transmission of data. (Also referred to as full duplex.)
EBCDIC: Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code. IBM-developed 8 bit character coding.
EIA: Electronic Industries Association. Developed the RS-232 spec.
EMA: Enterprise Management Architecture.
EMI: Electromagnetic Interference.
emulation: Act like something else. An example would be when a PC appears to be a dumb terminal to a host.
encryption: Coding of data into indecipherable symbols.
enterprise network: A network comprised of all the LANs or other networks within a single organization.
ENQ: Enquiry.
EOT: End of Transmission.
FCS: Frame Check Sequence. Error-detection field.
FBE: Free Buffer Enquiry.
FCC: Federal Communications Commission. Charged with protecting "our" airwaves.
FCS: Frame Check Sequence.
FDDI: Fiber Distributed Data Interface. Fiber standard that uses only an iota of fiber's throughput capacity.
FDM: Frequency Division Multiplexing. The official term for placing several different signals on a wire each having its own unique frequencies (i.e. broadband LANs).
FEP: Front-End Processor. Takes the hard work of communicating off of mainframes and some minis.
fiber optic cable: Cabling that carries light instead of electrons. Capable of enormous bandwidth. Usually made with glass.
file server: A device which doles out files to several clients.
flag: Typically a certain bit that has meaning in bit-oriented protocols.
FM: Frequency Modulation. Used to encode data into a carrier of a set frequency. The changes in frequency represent 1s and 0s.
frame: A block of data in bit-oriented protocols.
frequency: Cycles per second. Measured in Hertz (Hz).
FS: Frame Status.
FTAM: File Transfer, Access Management.
FTP: File Transfer Protocol.
full duplex: Describes the simultaneous two-way flow of data.
gateway: A device or software that allows communication between dissimilar networks such as PC and mainframe networks.
GHz: Gigahertz.
global network: A network that is global and allows access to several organizations.
GOSIP: Government OSI Profile. Specifies all government agencies shall follow OSI guidelines in creating and expanding networks. Now under review.
half duplex: Describes transmissions where data only travels in one direction at any given moment.
handshaking: Signals sent by communicating devices to initiate and synchronize the communication.
HDLC: High-Level Data link Control. A bit-oriented protocol established by the ISO.
host: Computer that offers services on a network.
HP: Hewlett-Packard. Top-notch computer company often pioneering new techniques. Now implementing wireless infrared communications for transferring data from portable PCs to desktop PCs.
hub: The central device of a star topology.
Hz: Hertz.
IAB: Internet Activities Board.
IBM: Big Blue.
ICMP: Internet Control Message Protocol.
IDG: Interdialog Gap. Used in LocalTalk Networks.
IDP: Internetwork Datagram Protocol.
IEEE: Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers. Developers of numerous standards regarding electronics.
IMS: Information Management System. From IBM.
internetwork: A combination of multiple networks joined together through connecting devices (i.e. bridges, routers).
IP: Internet Protocol. TCP/IP's connectionless, unacknowledged protocol.
IPX: Internetwork Packet eXchange. Novell's answer to TCP/IP's IP protocol. IPX is based on Xerox's XNS protocols.
ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network. Will usher into all digital telecommunications in the US.
ISO: Old acronym for International Standards Organization now named International Organization for Standardization.
ITT: Invitation To Transmit.
KHz: Kilohertz.
LAN: Local Area Network. A group of connected computers and other peripheral devices in a limited geographical area under some controlling entity like a network OS.
LAP: Link Access Protocol.
LAPB: Link Access Protocol - Balanced.
LAPD: Link Access Protocol - Digital.
LATA: Local Access and Transport Area.
LLAP: LocalTalk Link Access Protocol.
LLC: Logical Link Control.
LSL: Link Support Layer.
LU: Logical Unit.
MAC: Media Access Control.
MAN: Metropolitan Area Network.
MAP: Manufacturing Automation Protocol. GM's contribution.
MAU: Medium Attachment Unit or Multi-station Access Unit.
Mbps: Megabits per second.
MBp: s Megabytes per second.
message: Grouping of data into a discrete unit containing a header, data and a trailer.
message switching: A system in which the pathway for the message is determined dynamically as the data is transmitted from one holding tank to another.
MF: More Fragments to follow.
MHS: Message Handling Service.
MIB: Management Information Base.
microwaves: Very high frequency signals used to carry data over wide areas and to and from satellites.
modem: Modulator/Demodulator. Used to convert digital signals to analog for transmission over an analog channel and then back again on the receiving end.
modulator: The function of a modem to encode a data signal into an analog carrier by modulating the carrier.
MOP: Maintenance Operation Protocol.
MOTIS: Message Oriented Text Interchange Systems.
MSAU: Multi-Station Access Unit.
MSG: Message.
MTA: Message Transfer Agent.
multiplexer: A device which combines several channels of data onto one high-speed channel. (Also called MUX.)
multipoint: A transmission channel that includes several stations.
MVS: Multiple Virtual Storage.
NAK: Negative Acknowledgment.
NAUN: Nearest Active Upstream Neighbor.
NBP: Name Binding Protocol
NCP: Network Control Program.
NCP: NetWare Core Protocol.
NCR: National Cash Register.
NETBIOS: IBM's Network Basic Input/Output System.
NetWare: Novell, Inc.'s market-leading network operating system accompanied by lots of manuals which, when properly displayed, create what is fondly called "the red shelf".
network: A collection of computer-related devices interconnected under some form of common control.
NFS: Network File System. From Sun Microsystems.
NIC: Network Interface Card. Provides the physical means of gaining access to a network from a computer or network peripheral.
NID: Next IDentifier.
NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology.
NLM: NetWare Loadable Module.
node: A network device of some sort.
noise: Non-data signals that can disrupt clean data communications.
NOS: Network Operating System.
NRZ: Non-Return to Zero. Date encoding method.
NRZ-I: Non-Return to Zero - Inverted.
NRZ-L: Non-Return to Zero - Level.
NVE: Network Visible Entry.
NVTS: Network Virtual Terminal Service.
ODI: Open Data link Interface. It is the modern set of client applications to be run in NetWare systems. Much to Novell's chagrin, users have been hesitant to migrate from older versions of the client software. Only ODI is supported by NetWare 4.X servers with NDS.
ONC: Open Network Computing.
OS/2: IBM's PC OS that was supposed to put DOS out of the picture. Originally was jointly developed by Microsoft. OS/2 is a good OS, but is maligned unfairly because Version 1 had problems. If Windows NT doesn't live up to expectations, OS/2 might see a major resurrection.
OSI: Open System Interconnection. Standards promulgated by ISO including the well-known OSI Model.
PAC: Data packet.
packet: A collection of data into a form that is transmitted as a discrete unit over a network communication channel.
packet switching: The direction of data along pathways dynamically on a packet-by-packet basis. Data is reassembled from packets at receiver.
PAD: Packet Assembler/Disassembler. Required for packet-switched networks.
PAP: Printer Access Protocol.
parity bit: A special bit used in error checking.
PDN: Public Data Network.
PDU: Protocol Data Unit.
PEP: Packet Exchange Protocol.
peripheral device: A machine that performs specific tasks for a computer such as telecommunications (modem) or printing.
peer-to-peer: Describes a network environment where there is no central server for all clients, rather all devices may act as server or client. LANtastic is a common peer-to-peer NOS.
phase modulation: The encoding of data into a carrier signal by altering the carrier's phasing.
PLP: Packet Level Protocol.
PLU: Primary Logical Unit.
point-to-point: Connecting two devices directly together with no device in between. A printer connects to a PC with a point-to-point connection.
polling: A channel access method whereby a controlling device polls each attached device giving each permission to use the channel for data transfer.
POP: Point Of Presence. Also a reference to one's father or a soda.
POTS: Plain Old Telephone Service.
protocol: A formal set of specifications detailing data communication. Often used to refer to types of packets.
PSK: Phase Shift Keying.
PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Network.
PU: Physical Unit.
RBHC: Regional Bell Holding Company.
repeater: A device for regenerating a signal that has attenuated due to distance limitations. Works on the physical layer.
RFC: Request For Comment. The method by which new ideas are proposed on the Internet.
RIP: Routing Information Protocol. Supplies routers with data to update their routing tables.
RJE: Remote Job Entry.
ROSE: Remote Operation Service Element.
router: A device for connecting networks. A router selectively routes particular packet types along various network pathways. It functions on the transport layer.
RPC: Remote Procedural Call.
RS-232: A communication standard created by the EIA. It governs communications on the physical level (i.e. between a PC and modem). RS stands for "Recommended Standard".
RTMP: Routing Table Maintenance Protocol.
RTS: Request To Send.
RZ: Return to Zero. A data encoding method.
SAP: Service Advertising Protocol. The way that servers let everyone know they are there in NetWare systems.
SAP: Service Access Point. The point at which processes on certain layers of the OSI Model access data from other layers.
SAS: Statistically Assigned Sockets.
SCS: SNA Character String.
SD: Start Delimiter.
SDLC: Synchronous Data Link Control. IBM uses this bit-oriented synchronous protocol in SNA.
session: A logical relationship or connection set up between two nodes that wish to communicate with one another.
SID: Source IDentifier.
simplex: A system in which data only travels in one direction.
SLU: Secondary Logical Unit.
SMC: Standard Microsystems Corporation. Makers of ARCnet products.
SMDS: Switch Multimegabit Data Service. High-speed service used for MANs.
SMTP: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.
SNA: Systems Network Architecture. IBM's proprietary network that has been around for years, but is highly developed.
SNADS: SNA Distributed Services.
SNAP: Sub Network Access Protocol.
SNMP: Simple Network Management Protocol.
SONET: Synchronous Optical NETwork. Part of the ISDN system. Allows broadband transmission over fiber optic cable at throughputs ranging from 51 Mbps to over 13 Gbps.
SPX: Sequenced Packet eXchange. Novell's connection-oriented reliable delivery protocol akin to TCP/IP's TCP packet. Based on XNS from Xerox and used by NetWare printing facilities as well as Remote Console and SAA services.
SQE: Signal Quality Error.
SQL: Structured Query Language. Used in database applications.
SSAP: Source Service Access Point.
SSCP: System Services Control Point.
start bit: A bit that signals the start of a byte in asynchronous communications.
station: A computer on a network.
stop bit: A bit signaling the end of a byte in asynchronous transmissions.
store-and -forward: A description given to message-switching networks.
STP: Shielded Twisted Pair.
T connector: A special connector used in bus systems that allow attachment of coax cable to a network node or a terminator.
TCP: TCP/IP packet protocol providing connection-oriented reliable delivery.
TCP/IP: Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol. Protocols developed for use on the Internet.
TDM: Time Division Multiplexing. Used for placing several lower speed signals onto one high speed line by slicing a little of each signal at a time. The slices are reconstituted at the receiving end.
terminator: A device on a bus topology system that absorbs used data off of the LAN so it does not echo back and cause collisions.
throughput: The measure of how much data travels from one point to another in a given time frame. Usually represented in bits per second.
TLI: Transport Layer Interface.
topology: Describes the physical or logical layout of a network.
TP: Twisted Pair.
TPDU: Transport Protocol Data Unit.
trunk: A multi-line connection between telephone company switching centers. If you get a rapid busy tone, it usually means that the trunk into someone's switch is full.
TTL: Time To Live.
TTS: Novell's Transaction Tracking System.
twisted pair cable: A type of cabling containing pairs of wires twisted around each other to provide resistance to crosstalk and external interference.
UDP: User Datagram Protocol.
UTP: Unshielded Twisted Pair.
VAP: Novell's Value Added Process.
VAX: Virtual Access eXtended. From DEC.
VMS: Virtual Memory System.
VT: Virtual Terminal.
VTAM: Virtual Terminal Access Method.
voltage: A measurement which indicates electrical potential.
WAN: Wide Area Network. Covers a larger geographical area than LANs. Usually slower, too.
watt: A measurement of power.
workstation: A term used to describe a PC connected to a network. It also describes a very powerful UNIX-based PC from Sun Microsystems.
X.25: A physical specification for packet switching devised by the CCITT.
XDR: EXternal Data Representation.
XNS: Xerox Network System.
XO: EXactly Once.
ZIP: Zone Information Protocol.
ZIT: Zone Information Table.