3Com TP1200 - OfficeConnect Hub User Manual - Reating
2
Networking Terminology
A
Network
is a collection of workstations (for example,
IBM-compatible PCs) and other equipment (for example,
printers), connected for the purpose of exchanging
information. Networks vary in size: some are within a
single room, others span continents.
A
Local Area Network (LAN)
is a network, usually in an office,
that spans no more than a single site.
Ethernet
is a type of LAN, referring to the technology used to
pass information around the network.
Fast Ethernet
is a type of LAN that runs ten times faster than
standard Ethernet.
10BASE-T
is the name given to the Ethernet protocol that runs
over
Twisted Pair (TP)
cable.
100BASE-TX
is the name given to the Fast Ethernet protocol
that runs over
Twisted Pair (TP)
cable. The
OfficeConnect hub uses TP cable with
RJ45
type
connectors.
A
Network Loop
occurs when two pieces of network
equipment are connected by more than one path. Your
hub detects this and
Partitions
one of its ports to break
the loop.
A
Segment
is the length of cable connected to a port.
Packets
are the units of information your workstations and other
equipment send to each other over the network.
Collisions
are a part of normal Fast Ethernet operation and
occur if two or more devices (pieces of network
equipment) attempt to transmit at the same time.
A sudden sustained increase in the number of collisions
can indicate a problem with a device, particularly if it is
not accompanied by a general increase in traffic.
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