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Glossary
mtrace (multicast traceroute)
Used to establish the SPT for a specified
multicast group.
MTU
maximum transmission unit: The largest packet size, measured in
bytes, that an interface can handle.
multicast
Broadly, any communication between a single sender and mul-
tiple receivers. Unlike broadcast messages, which are sent to all addresses on
a network, multicast messages are sent to a defined subset of the network
addresses; this subset has a group multicast address, which is specified in the
packet's destination address field. See also: broadcast and directed broadcast.
multicast address
A single address that points to more than one device on
the network by specifying a special non-existent MAC address specified in
that particular multicast protocol. Identical to group address. See also:
multicast.
multicast group
A group set up to receive messages from a source. These
groups can be established based on Frame Relay or IP in the TCP/IP protocol
suite, as well as other networks.
multicast send VCC
A two-directional point-to-point virtual control con-
nection (VCC) arranged by an LEC to a BUS, it is one of the three types of
informational links specified by phase 1 LANE. See also: control distribute
VCC and control direct VCC.
multilayer switch
A highly specialized, high-speed, hardware-based type
of LAN router, the device filters and forwards packets based on their Layer
2 MAC addresses and Layer 3 network addresses. It's possible that even
Layer 4 can be read. Sometimes called a Layer 3 switch. See also: LAN
switch.
multilayer switching
Multilayer switching combines Layer 2, 3, and 4
switching technology and provides very high-speed scalability with low
latency. This is provided by huge filter tables based on the criteria designed
by the network administrator.
multiplexing
The process of converting several logical signals into a single
physical signal for transmission across one physical channel. Contrast with:
demultiplexing.
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