Networks & Distributed Systems Acronyms

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PSTN

Back 1

public switched telephone network - operated by common carriers at&t, bellsouth

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MAN

Back 2

metro area network - connects lans & BN's 3 to 30 miles

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WAN

Back 3

wide area network - connects BN's and MANs

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PBX

Back 4

private branch exchange - connects the private internal phone network to the public switched telephone network (pstn)

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IMAP

Back 5

internet message access protocol - communicate between client and mail server. messages remain on server after read

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POP

Back 6

post office protocol - comms between email client and server, message copied to client and deleted from server

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SMTP

Back 7

simple mail transfer protocol - email standard

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URL

Back 8

uniform resource locator

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HTTP

Back 9

hypertext transfer protocol - protocol used for web apps

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MIME

Back 10

multipurpose internet mail extension - standard for non-text email

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RFC

Back 11

request for comment - describes a proposed standards and invites feedback

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PCS

Back 12

personal communication service - modern wireless network

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UHF/VHF

Back 13

ultra high frequency/very high frequency - rf ranges

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NRZ-L

Back 14

non return to zero

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TDM

Back 15

time division multiplexing - shares vertically, terminals take turns

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PCM

Back 16

pulse code modulation - used by nth american telephone network, input voice signal sampled 8000 times per second

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STDM

Back 17

statistical time division multiplexing - selection of transmission speed for the multiplexed circuit is based on a stat analysis of the usage requirements

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FDM

Back 18

frequency division multiplexing - divides circuit horizontally multi signals travel simultaneously

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XON/XOFF

Back 19

transmit off/ transmit on - software flow control

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ARQ

Back 20

automatic repeat request - receiver receives an error and requests a resend

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HDLC

Back 21

high level data control - formal standard developed by ISO. like sdlc but address and control fields longer

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PPP

Back 22

point to point protocol - transfers point to point circuit but provides an addy so it can be used on multipoint circuits

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SDLC

Back 23

synchronous data link control

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X.25

Back 24

oldest packet switched service. offers datagram, SVC and PVC services. Reliable because it provides complete error checking

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TCP/IP

Back 25

transmission control protocol/internet protocol - used by the transport layer on the internet. Breaks files into smaller packets.
internet protocol - used by the network layer on the internet. places tcp packet inside an ip packet

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IPX/SPX

Back 26

internet packet exchange/sequenced packet exchange - developed by Xerox, primary protocol used by novell netware. used by 40% of lans

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SLIP

Back 27

Serial line internet protocol - proposed standard for inverse multiplexing - has been surpassed by ppp

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OSI

Back 28

open systems interconnection reference model - frame work of protocols for computer-to-computer comms.

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PAD

Back 29

packet assembly/disassembly - equip providing packet ass/disass between async transmission and the packet switching network

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ACK

Back 30

Acknowledgement - a char indicating a + ackn. that a message has been correctly received

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NAK

Back 31

Negative acknowledgement - message received with error

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CSMA/CD

Back 32

carrier sense multiple access with collision detection - used in contention networks. network interface listens for presence of carrier b4 sending. detects a collision

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LLC

Back 33

logical link control - data link layers connection to the network layer above it

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MAC

Back 34

media access control sublayer - controls the physical hardware

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UTP

Back 35

unshielded twisted pair - leading lan cabling technlology

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FDDI

Back 36

fibre distributed data interface - token ring like lan tech using fibre optic

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PSTN

Back 37

public switched telephone network - common carriers

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PBX

Back 38

private branch exchange -

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RPC

Back 39

remote procedure call - allow programs on different computers to talk

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ATM

Back 40

asynchronous transfer mode - comms switch uses cell relay techniques

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DES

Back 41

data encryption standard - widely used single key encryption algorithm

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RSA

Back 42

most popular form of asymmetric encryption

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UPS

Back 43

uninterruptable power supply

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CMIP

Back 44

common management interface protocol - monitors and tracks network usage

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ESD

Back 45

electronic software distribution - remote software installation to clients

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RMON

Back 46

remote monitoring -

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SNMP

Back 47

simple network management protocol - application layer protocol for monitoring and configuring

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SLA

Back 48

service level agreement - performance and fault conditions tolerated and compensation for non-conformance

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TCO

Back 49

total cost of ownership - how much per year to keep 1 computer operating. often 10000 per pc per year

Front 50

MTBF

Back 50

mean time between failures