N

Network interface card (NIC)

An adapter card that plugs into the system bus of a computer and allows the computer to send and receive signals on a network. A network interface card (NIC) is also known as a network adapter card or simply a network card.

Network protocol

A protocol that operates at the network layer (layer 3) of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model for networking. Common network protocols include the following:

Internet Protocol (IP):
Part of the TCP/IP protocol suite for connectivity with the Internet

Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX):
A Novell NetWare protocol

NetBEUI:
A protocol developed from NetBIOS that functions at both the network and transport layers

Network Termination Unit (NTU)

A device for connecting digital Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) customer premises equipment to ISDN lines. The Network Termination Unit (NTU) allows customer premises equipment to be connected to the switching equipment at the telco’s central office (CO).

Network utilization

The percentage of available bandwidth being used in a network. For Ethernet networks, a network utilization of 40 to 60 percent is normally the maximum; higher utilization results in more collisions and retransmissions. Another word that describes network utilization is "throughput," which is typically measured in Mbps or MB/sec.

Node

A general term for a device on a network that has a specific physical or logical address or can recognize addresses. Nodes can be computers, repeaters, bridges, or other devices on a network that can transmit, receive, or process signals. Another name for a node, especially on Ethernet networks, is a station.

Company Information | Products | Services | Solutions | Offers| Training | News Desk | Online Support | Career | Contact Us | Home