Netgear FVX538 FVX538 Reference Manual - Page 237

Reference Manual for the ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 FVX538 L LAN See "Local Area Network" Local Area Network A communications network serving users within a limited area, such as one floor of a building. A LAN typically connects multiple personal computers and shared network devices such as storage and printers. Although many technologies exist to implement a LAN, Ethernet is the most common for connecting personal computers and is limited to a distance of 1,500 feet. LANs can be connected together, but if modems and telephones connect two or more LANs, the larger network constitutes what is called a WAN or Wide Area Network. M MAC (1) Medium Access Control. In LANs, the sublayer of the data link control layer that supports medium-dependent functions and uses the services of the physical layer to provide services to the logical link control (LLC) sublayer. The MAC sublayer includes the method of determining when a device has access to the transmission medium. (2) Message Authentication Code. In computer security, a value that is a part of a message or accompanies a message and is used to determine that the contents, origin, author, or other attributes of all or part of the message are as they appear to be. (IBM Glossary of Computing Terms) MAC address The Media Access Control address is a unique 48-bit hardware address assigned to every network interface card. Usually written in the form 01:23:45:67:89:ab. Maximum Receive Unit The size in bytes of the largest packet that can be sent or received. Maximum Transmit Unit The size in bytes of the largest packet that can be sent or received. Mbps Megabits per second. MDI/MDIX In cable wiring, the concept of transmit and receive are from the perspective of the PC, which is wired as a Media Dependant Interface (MDI). In MDI wiring, a PC transmits on pins 1 and 2. At the hub, switch, Glossary -7 January 2005