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Appendix B
bps Bits per second. A measure of data transmission speed.
BRI Basic Rate Interface. ISDN standard for provision of low-speed ISDN
services (two B channels (64 kbps each) and one D channel (16 kbps))
over a single wire pair.
bridge Device that passes packets between two network segments according
to the packets' destination address.
broadcast Message sent to all nodes on a network.
broadcast address Special IP address reserved for simultaneous broadcast to all network
nodes.
buffer Storage area used to hold data until it can be forwarded.
-----C-----
carrier Signal suitable for transmission of information.
CAST Encryption algorithm using variable key length of maximum 128 bits.
CCITT Comité Consultatif International Télégraphique et Téléphonique or
Consultative Committee for International Telegraph and Telephone.
An international organization responsible for developing telecommu-
nication standards.
CD Carrier Detect.
CHAP Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol. Security protocol in
PPP that prevents unauthorized access to network services. See RFC
1334 for PAP specifications Compare PAP.
client Network node that requests services from a server.
CPE Customer Premises Equipment. Terminating equipment such as termi-
nals, telephones and modems that connects a customer site to the
telephone company network.
CO Central Office. Typically a local telephone company facility responsible
for connecting all lines in an area.
compression Operation performed on a data set that reduces its size to improve
storage or transmission rate.
crossover cable Cable that lets you connect a port on one Ethernet hub to a port on
another Ethernet hub. You can order an Ethernet crossover cable from
network supply companies such as Black Box.
CSU/DSU Channel Service Unit/Data Service Unit. Device responsible for con-
necting a digital circuit, such as a T1 link, with a terminal or data com-
munications device.
CTS Clear to Send. Circuit activated in hardware flow control when a
modem (or other DCE) is ready to accept data from the computer (or
other DTE). Compare RTS, xon/xoff.
-----D-----
data bits Number of bits used to make up a character.
datagram Logical grouping of information sent as a network-layer unit. Compare
frame, packet.
DCE Digital Communication Equipment. Device that connects the commu-
nication circuit to the network end node (DTE). A modem and a CSU/
DSU are examples of a DCE.
dedicated line Communication circuit that is used exclusively to connect two network
devices. Compare dial on demand.
DES Data Encryption Standard is a 56-bit encryption algorithm developed
by the U.S. National Bureau of Standards (now the National Institute of
Standards and Technology).