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M
MAC Address
The Media Access Control address is a unique, 48-bit value permanently saved in the ROM at the factory
to identify each Ethernet network device. It is expressed as a sequence of 12 hexadecimal digits printed
on the unit’s label. You need to provide the MAC Address to the cable service provider. Also called an
Ethernet address, physical address, hardware address, or NIC address.
MB
One megabyte; equals 1,024 x 1,024 bytes, 1,024 kilobytes, or about 8 million bits.
Mbps
Million bits per second (megabits per second). A rate of data transfer.
MTU
The Maximum Transmission Unit is the largest amount of data that can be transmitted in one discrete
message on a given physical network. The MTU places an upper bound on the size of a message that
can be transferred by the network in a single frame. Messages exceeding the MTU must be fragmented
before transmission, and reassembled at the destination.
Multicast
A data transmission sent from one sender to multiple receivers. See also broadcast and unicast.
N
NAT
Network Address Translation is an Internet standard for a LAN to use one set of IP addresses for internal
traffic and a second set of IP addresses for external traffic. NAT provides some security because the IP
addresses of LAN computers are invisible on the Internet.
Network
Two or more computers connected to communicate with each other. Networks have traditionally been
connected using some kind of wiring.
NIC
A Network Interface Card converts computer data to serial data in a packet format that it sends over the
LAN. A NIC is installed in an expansion slot or can be built-in. Every Ethernet NIC has a MAC address
permanently saved in its ROM.
O
OSI
Open Systems Interconnection is the seven layer suite of protocols designed by the International
Standards Organization (ISO) to be the international standard computer network architecture.
P
Packet
The unit of data that is routed between the sender and destination on the Internet or other packet-
switched network.