Internetworking Terms and Acronyms
In the business world, computer networks are becoming too useful to do without. Using a LocalTalk network, Macintosh users in Marketing can share product bulletins, data sheets, and slide presentations. Digital minicomputer users in Accounting can access a common database of customer information using DECnet. In Engineering, Sun workstation users can share product specifications using TCP/IP over Ethernet. And, in Manufacturing, IBM devices attached to a Token Ring network can process real-time data on material availability and fill orders sent in over serial links from remote offices.
This glossary attempts to gather and define the terms and acronyms of internetworking. As with any young technical field where firm definitions have yet to be standardized, many internetworking terms have several meanings. Where necessary, multiple definitions and acronym expansions are presented. Multiword terms are alphabetized as if there were no spaces; hyphenated terms, as if there were no hyphens.
Terms in this glossary are typically defined under their acronyms. Each acronym expansion is listed separately, with a cross-reference to the acronym entry. In addition, many definitions contain cross-references to related terms.
Terms marked by * are part of the Internet Users' Glossary see RFC 1983.