background image
Glossary
437
administrative weight
A value designated by a network administrator to
rate the preference given to a network link. It is one of four link metrics
exchanged by PTSPs to test ATM network resource availability.
ADSU
ATM Data Service Unit: The terminal adapter used to connect to an
ATM network through an HSSI-compatible mechanism. See also: DSU.
advertising
The process whereby routing or service updates are trans-
mitted at given intervals, allowing other routers on the network to maintain
a record of viable routes.
AEP
AppleTalk Echo Protocol: A test for connectivity between two Apple-
Talk nodes where one node sends a packet to another and receives an echo,
or copy, in response.
AFI
Authority and Format Identifier: The part of an NSAP ATM address
that delineates the type and format of the IDI section of an ATM address.
AFP
AppleTalk Filing Protocol: A Presentation layer protocol, supporting
AppleShare and Mac OS File Sharing, that permits users to share files and
applications on a server.
AIP
ATM Interface Processor: Supporting AAL3/4 and AAL5, this inter-
face for Cisco 7000 series routers minimizes performance bottlenecks at the
UNI. See also: AAL3/4 and AAL5.
algorithm
A set of rules or processes used to solve a problem. In net-
working, algorithms are typically used for finding the best route for traffic
from a source to its destination.
alignment error
An error occurring in Ethernet networks in which a
received frame has extra bits; that is, a number not divisible by eight. Align-
ment errors are generally the result of frame damage caused by collisions.
all-routes explorer packet
An explorer packet that can move across an
entire SRB network, tracing all possible paths to a given destination. Also
known as an all-rings explorer packet. See also: explorer packet, local
explorer packet,
and spanning explorer packet.
AM
Amplitude Modulation: A modulation method that represents infor-
mation by varying the amplitude of the carrier signal. See also: modulation.
Copyright ©2001 SYBEX , Inc., Alameda, CA
www.sybex.com