MAU 

Medium Attachment Unit, a device used to convert signals from one Ethernet medium to another.
 

Mbps
 
Megabits per second.
 

MIB
 
Management Information Base, a database of network parameters used by SNMP and CMIP (Common Management Information Protocol) to monitor and change network device settings. It provides a logical naming of all information resources on the network that are pertinent to the network's management.
 

MII
 
Media Independent Interface, New standard developed for Fast Ethernet in IEEE 802.3u specification. The Fast Ethernet equivalent to the AUI in 10 Mbps Ethernet, allowing different types of Fast Ethernet media to be connected to a Fast Ethernet device via a common interface.
 

MJ
 
Modular Jack. A jack used for connecting voice cables to a faceplate, as for a telephone.
 

MMJ
 
Modified Modular Jack. These are the 6-pin connectors used to connect serial terminal lines to terminal devices. MMJs can be distinguished from the similar RJ12 jacks by having a side-locking tab, rather than a center-mounted one.
 

Modem
 
A modulator-demodulator device for changing transmission signals from digital to analog for transmission over phone lines. Used in pairs, one is required at each end of the line.

 

MOP
 
Maintenance Operations Protocol, a DEC protocol used for remote communications between hosts and servers.
 

Multicast
 
A multicast is a message that is sent out to multiple devices on the network by a host.
 

Multilink PPP
 
The ability of a dialup device to allocate more than one channel of bandwidth to a particular connection. Generally, this is termed to be the ability of an ISDN device to bond two B-channels together into a single data pipe, but some vendors can perform the same function with asychronous dial-up connections over modems by having a second connection initiated to support the additional bandwidth requirements.
 

Multiplexer
 
A device that allows several users to share a single circuit. It funnels different data streams into a single stream. At the other end of the communications link, another multiplexer reverses the process by splitting the data stream back into the original streams.
 

Multiplexing
 
Transmitting multiple signals simultaneously on a single channel.
 

Multiport Repeater
 
A repeater, either standalone or connected to standard Ethernet cable, for interconnecting up to eight Thinwire Ethernet segments.
 

Name Server
 
Software that runs on network hosts charged with translating (or resolving) text-style names into numeric IP addresses.
 

NCP
 
Network Control Program, a program run on VMS machines to configure local network hardware and remote network devices.
 

NetWare
 
A Novell developed Network Operating System (NOS). Provides file and printer sharing among networks of Personal Computers (PCs). Each NetWare network must have at least one file server, and access to other resources is dependent on connecting to and logging into the file server. The file server controls user logins and access to other network clients, such as user PCs, print servers, modem/fax servers, disk/file servers, etc.
 

NetBIOS/NetBEUI
 
Microsoft's networking protocols for it's LAN Manager and Windows NT products.
 

Network
 
An interconnected system of computers that can communicate with each other and share files, data and resources.
 

Network Address
 
Every node on a network has one or more addresses associated with it, including at least one fixed hardware address such as "ae-34-2c-1d-69-f1" assigned by the device's manufacturer. Most nodes also have protocol specific addresses assigned by a network manager.
 

Network Management
 
Administrative services for managing a network, including configuring and tuning, maintaining network operation, monitoring network performance, and diagnosing network problems.
 

NIC
 
Network Interface Card, an adapter card that is inserted into a computer, and contains the necessary software and electronics to enable the station to communicate over the network.
 

Node
 
Any intelligent device connected to the network. This includes terminal servers, host computers, and any other devices (such as printers and terminals) that are directly connected to the network. A node can be thought of as any device that has a "hardware address."
 

NOS
 
Network Operating System, the software for a network that runs in a file server and controls access to files and other resources from multiple users. It provides security and administrative tools. Novell's NetWare, Banyan's VINES and IBM's LAN Server are NOS examples.

 
Open System Interconnect (OSI)
 
See "ISO."
 

Packet
 
A series of bits containing data and control information, including source and destination node addresses, formatted for transmission from one node to another.
 

PAP
 
(Password Authentication Protocol) Authentication scheme for PPP links. A password can be specified for both devices on a remote link. Failure to authenticate will result in a dropped connection prior to start of data transmission.
 

Physical Address
 
An address identifying a single node.
 

Physical Layer
 
Layer 1, the bottom layer of the OSI model, is implemented by the physical channel. The Physical layer insulates Layer 2, the Data Link layer, from medium-dependent physical characteristics such as baseband, broadband or fiber-optic transmission. Layer 1 defines the protocols that govern transmission media and signals.
 

Point-to-Point
 
A circuit connecting two nodes only, or a configuration requiring a separate physical connection between each pair of nodes.

 

Port
 
The physical connector on a device enabling the connection to be made.
 

Port Multiplier
 
A concentrator providing connection to a network for multiple devices.
 

PostScript
 
A printer/display protocol developed by Adobe Corp. PostScript is an actual printing and programming language to display text and graphics. Unlike line/ASCII printers, which print character input verbatim, PostScript printers accept and interpret an entire PostScript page before printing it. 

Potentially Unwanted Program
 
"Potentially Unwanted Program" sometimes act very similarly as viruses or spyware. They are usually installed legitimately as a part of another program (often designated as an "AD-Supported program" – in which the End User License Agreement typically prompts the user to accept that, in addition to the desired program, an additional program (Potentially Unwanted Program) will also be installed). 

NOTE: Removal of the Potentially Unwanted Programs can result in damage to the AD-Supported program which was installed with them.

PPP

Point-to-Point Protocol. The successor to SLIP, PPP provides router-to-router and host-to-network connections over both synchronous and asynchronous circuits.
 

Print Server
 
A dedicated computer that manages printers and print requests from other nodes on the network.
 

PROM
 
Programmable ROM, a read-only memory whose data content can be altered.
 

Protocol
 
Any standard method of communicating over a network.