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Glossary
maximum burst
Specified in bytes or cells, the larg-
est burst of information exceeding the insured rate
that will be permitted on an ATM permanent virtual
connection for a short time and will not be dropped
even if it goes over the specified maximum rate. Com-
pare with: insured burst. See also: maximum rate.
maximum rate
The maximum permitted data
throughput on a particular virtual circuit, equal to the
total of insured and uninsured traffic from the traffic
source. Should traffic congestion occur, uninsured
information may be deleted from the path. Measured
in bits or cells per second, the maximum rate repre-
sents the highest throughput of data the virtual circuit
is ever able to deliver and cannot exceed the media
rate. Compare with: excess rate. See also: maximum
burst.
MBS
Maximum Burst Size: In an ATM signaling
message, this metric, coded as a number of cells, is
used to convey the burst tolerance.
MBONE
multicast backbone: The multicast back-
bone of the Internet, it is a virtual multicast network
made up of multicast LANs, including point-to-point
tunnels interconnecting them.
MCDV
Maximum Cell Delay Variation: The maxi-
mum two-point CDV objective across a link or node for
the identified service category in an ATM network. The
MCDV is one of four link metrics that are exchanged
using PTSPs to verify the available resources of an ATM
network. Only one MCDV value is assigned to each
traffic class.
MCLR
Maximum Cell Loss Ratio: The maximum
ratio of cells in an ATM network that fail to transit a
link or node compared with the total number of cells
that arrive at the link or node. MCDV is one of four link
metrics that are exchanged using PTSPs to verify the
available resources of an ATM network. The MCLR
applies to cells in VBR and CBR traffic classes whose
CLP bit is set to zero. See also: CBR, CLP, and VBR.
MCR
Minimum Cell Rate: A parameter determined
by the ATM Forum for traffic management of the
ATM networks. MCR is specifically defined for ABR
transmissions and specifies the minimum value for the
allowed cell rate (ACR). See also: ACR and PCR.
MCTD
Maximum Cell Transfer Delay: In an ATM
network, the total of the maximum cell delay variation
and the fixed delay across the link or node. MCTD is
one of four link metrics that are exchanged using
PNNI topology state packets to verify the available
resources of an ATM network. There is one MCTD
value assigned to each traffic class. See also: MCDV.
metrics
These measurements are associated with
each route that is present in the route table. Metrics
are calculated by the routing protocol to define a cost
of getting to the destination address. Some algorithms
use hop count (the number of routers between it and
the destination address), whereas others use a vector
of values.
MIB
Management Information Base: Used with
SNMP management software to gather information
from remote devices. The management station can
poll the remote device for information, or the MIB
running on the remote station can be programmed to
send information on a regular basis.
MIP
Multichannel Interface Processor: The resident
interface processor on Cisco 7000 series routers, pro-
viding up to two channelized T1 or E1 connections by
serial cables connected to a CSU. The two controllers
are capable of providing 24 T1 or 30 E1 channel
groups, with each group being introduced to the system
as a serial interface that can be configured individually.
mips
millions of instructions per second: A measure
of processor speed.
MLP
Multilink PPP: A technique used to split,
recombine, and sequence datagrams across numerous
logical data links.
MMP
Multichassis Multilink PPP: A protocol that
supplies MLP support across multiple routers and
access servers. MMP enables several routers and
access servers to work as a single large dial-up pool
with one network address and ISDN access number.
MMP successfully supports packet fragmenting and
reassembly when the user connection is split between
two physical access devices.
modem
modulator-demodulator: A device that con-
verts digital signals to analog and vice-versa so that dig-
ital information can be transmitted over analog
communication facilities, such as voice-grade telephone
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