Linksys FESWSK5 User Guide - Page 35

Instant EtherFast® Series Fast Ethernet - A 100 Mbps technology based on the 10Base-T Ethernet CSMA/CD network access method. Full Duplex - The ability of a device or line to transmit data simultaneously in both directions. Half Duplex - Data transmission that can occur in two directions over a single line, but only one direction at a time. Hardware - Hardware is the physical aspect of computers, telecommunications, and other information technology devices. The term arose as a way to distinguish the "box" and the electronic circuitry and components of a computer from the program you put in it to make it do things. The program came to be known as the software. Hub - The device that serves as the central location for attaching wires from workstations. Can be passive, where there is no amplication of the signals; or active, where the hubs are used like repeaters to provide an extension of the cable that connects to a workstation. IEEE - The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The IEEE describes itself as "the world's largest technical professional society -- promoting the development and application of electrotechnology and allied sciences for the benefit of humanity, the advancement of the profession, and the wellbeing of our members." The IEEE fosters the development of standards that often become national and international standards. The organization publishes a number of journals, has many local chapters, and several large societies in special areas, such as the IEEE Computer Society. LAN - A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line and typically share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (for example, within an office building). MAC Address - The MAC (Media Access Control) address is your computer's unique hardware number. Mbps (MegaBits Per Second) - One million bits per second; unit of measurement for data transmission. 63 Fast Ethernet Switched 10/100 Network In a Box Motherboard - A motherboard is the physical arrangement in a computer that contains the computer's basic circuitry and components. Network - A system that transmits any combination of voice, video and/or data between users. NIC (Network Interface Card) - A board installed in a computer system, usually a PC, to provide network communication capabilities to and from that computer system. Also called an adapter. PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) - A peripheral bus commonly used in PCs, Macintoshes and workstations. It was designed primarily by Intel and first appeared on PCs in late 1993. PCI provides a high-speed data path between the CPU and peripheral devices (video, disk, network, etc.). There are typically three or four PCI slots on the motherboard. In a Pentium PC, there is generally a mix of PCI and ISA slots or PCI and EISA slots. Early on, the PCI bus was known as a "local bus." PCI provides "plug and play" capability, automatically configuring the PCI cards at startup. When PCI is used with the ISA bus, the only thing that is generally required is to indicate in the CMOS memory which IRQs are already in use by ISA cards. PCI takes care of the rest. PCI allows IRQs to be shared, which helps to solve the problem of limited IRQs available on a PC. For example, if there were only one IRQ left over after ISA devices were given their required IRQs, all PCI devices could share it. In a PCIonly machine, there cannot be insufficient IRQs, as all can be shared. Port - A pathway into and out of the computer or a network device such as a switch or router. For example, the serial and parallel ports on a personal computer are external sockets for plugging in communications lines, modems and printers. RJ-45 (Registered Jack-45) - A connector similar to a telephone connector that holds up to eight wires, used for connecting Ethernet devices. Storage - The semi-permanent or permanent holding place for digital data. STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) - Telephone wire that is wrapped in a metal sheath to eliminate external interference. 64