1.7. Used terms, glossary and shortcuts
1.7.1. Network related
- Base 10
Well known decimal number system, represent any value with digit 0-9.
- Base 16
Usually used in lower and higher programming languages, known also as hexadecimal number system, represent any value with digit 0-9 and char A-F (case insensitive).
- Base 85
Representation of a value with 85 different digits/chars, this can lead to shorter strings but never seen in the wild.
- Bit
Smallest storage unit, on/true (1) or off/false (0)
- Byte
Mostly a collection of 8 (but not really a must - see older computer systems) bits
- Device
Here, hardware of network connection, see also NIC
- Dual homed host
A dual homed host is a node with two network (physical or virtual) interfaces on two different links, but does not forward any packets between the interfaces.
- Host
Generally a single homed host on a link. Normally it has only one active network interface, e.g. Ethernet or (not and) PPP.
- Interface
Mostly same as “device”, see also NIC
- IP Header
Header of an IP packet (each network packet has a header, kind of is depending on network layer)
- Link
A link is a layer 2 network packet transport medium, examples are Ethernet, Token Ring, PPP, SLIP, ATM, ISDN, Frame Relay,...
- Node
A node is a host or a router.
- Octet
A collection of 8 real bits, today also similar to “byte”.
- Port
Information for the TCP/UDP dispatcher (layer 4) to transport information to upper layers
- Protocol
Each network layer contains mostly a protocol field to make life easier on dispatching transported information to upper layer, seen in layer 2 (MAC) and 3 (IP)
- Router
A router is a node with two or more network (physical or virtual) interfaces, capable of forwarding packets between the interfaces.
- Socket
An IP socket is defined by source and destination IP addresses and Ports and (binding)
- Stack
Network related a collection of layers
- Subnetmask
IP networks uses bit masks to separate local networks from remote ones
- Tunnel
A tunnel is typically a point-to-point connection over which packets are exchanged which carry the data of another protocol, e.g. an IPv6-in-IPv4 tunnel.
1.7.1.1. Shortcuts
- ACL
Access Control List
- API
Application Programming Interface
- ASIC
Application Specified Integrated Circuit
- BSD
Berkeley Software Distribution
- CAN-Bus
Controller Area Network Bus (physical bus system)
- ISP
Internet Service Provider
- KAME
Project - a joint effort of six companies in Japan to provide a free IPv6 and IPsec (for both IPv4 and IPv6) stack for BSD variants to the world www.kame.net
- LIR
Local Internet Registry
- NIC
Network Interface Card
- RFC
Request For Comments - set of technical and organizational notes about the Internet
- USAGI
UniverSAl playGround for Ipv6 Project - works to deliver the production quality IPv6 protocol stack for the Linux system.
1.7.2. Document related
1.7.2.1. Long code line wrapping signal char
The special character “¬” is used for signaling that this code line is wrapped for better viewing in PDF and PS files.