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ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line.
A modem technology that transforms ordinary phone lines (also known as "twisted copper pairs") into high-speed digital lines for ultra-fast Internet access.
BellSouth FastAccess ADSL Service transmits at speeds of up to 1.5 Mbps downstream (to the subscriber) and 256 Kbps upstream, depending on the distance. |
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Alias
An alternative name used for identification, such as naming a field or site. |
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Anonymous FTP
Using the FTP function of the Internet without a secret login ID and password. This is permitted on large systems that share some of their files with outside users who otherwise would not be able to login. |
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Asymmetric
Indicates there is an appreciable difference in the data rate between the two directions of a transmission. |
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ATM
Asynchronous Transfer Mode. This high-speed network protocol is composed of 53 byte "cells" having 5 byte headers and 48 byte payloads. Because of its short packet length, it is especially good for real time voice and video. |
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Backup
Copying files that are stored on a hard drive to another medium such as floppy disks or a backup tape. |
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Bandwidth
This is the reflection of the capacity of a given transmission channel. The greater the bandwidth the more information that can be transferred over that network at one time. |
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BERT
Bit Error Rate Test. A test that reflects the ratio of erred bits to the total number transmitted. Usually shown in exponential form (10^-6) to indicate that one out of a certain number of bits are in error. |
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Bridge
A LAN (Local Area Network) Internet networking device that filters and transfers data packets between LAN’s, enabling them to operate as a single network. |
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Broadband
High speed network for transmission of data, audio, and video. |
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Cache
Local storage on your computer that holds in memory recently viewed web pages. This allows you to review these pages quickly without waiting for them to download from the Internet again. |
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CLEC
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier. Multiple local service providers competing in a single geographic location. |
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CO
Central Office. A circuit switch that terminates all local access lines in a particular geographic serving area. A physical building where the local switching equipment is found. |
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Connectivity
The ability to communicate between computers and terminals. |
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CPE
Customer Premises (or Provided) Equipment. A wide range of customer-premises terminated equipment, which is connected to the local telecommunications network. This includes telephone, modems, terminals, routers, settop boxes, etc. |
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Dedicated
A telephone or other communications line used for one purpose. |
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Dial-up
A means of connecting to the Internet or any other computer via a modem. |
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Domain Name
A registered name that is given to an Internet address so that the address is easy to remember. |
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Download
To receive a file transmitted over a network. |
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Downstream
Identifies that data rate from the exchange to the end-user. |
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DSLAM
Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexor.
The equipment in your Central Office that provides your FastAccess connection from your telephone line to BellSouth Internet service. |
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Dynamic IP
A Dynamic IP address is an IP address that changes periodically.
A different IP address may be assigned every time you connect to the
Internet. This makes it more difficult for others to locate your computer
or other device from elsewhere on the Internet.
IP Addresses are numbers used to identify a specific device connected to
the Internet, much like a phone number is used to identify a specific
telephone. An IP address is organized into four groups of numbers
separated by periods, or dots, such as 204.32.345.61. Every device
connected to the Internet has a unique IP Address. For instance, a web
site such as www.johnsmith.com would be assigned a unique numeric IP
Address (192.168.70.10). When a user types www.johnsmith.com into their
browser, the software goes to an Internet directory, finds that the web
site "lives" at IP Address (192.168.70.10), and connects to that address
over the World Wide Web.
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Ethernet
A LAN (Local Area Network) technology that operates over twisted-pair wiring or coaxial cable speeds up to 100 Mbps or higher. |
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Ethernet Card
A printed circuit board that plugs into a computer to permit the computer to connect to a network. |
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Ethernet Modem
An external modem that connects to your computer through an Ethernet port or a Network Interface Card (NIC).
This type of modem enables home networking and is compatible with IBM and Mac. |
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Firewall
A security device (hardware or software) that controls access from the Internet to a local network by using identification information. |
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FTP
File Transfer Protocol. The basic Internet function that enables files to be transferred between computers. You can use it to download files from a remote host computer, as well as to upload files from your computer. |
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Home Networking Gateway
A home networking gateway is a DSL modem, high-speed router and professional
grade firewall all in one device. |
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IP
Internet Protocol. An IP address enables a computer to be identified on the Internet while the user is on-line. |
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IP Address
An Internet address that is a unique number consisting of four parts separated by dots sometimes called a "dotted squad". Each of the four parts is a number from 0 to 255. Every Internet computer has an IP address. |
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ISP
Internet Service Provider. An organization that provides access to the Internet. |
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Java
A programming language that permits Internet sites on the World Wide Web to include computer applications that run on the computers of people who visit their sites. |
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LAN
Local Area Network. A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. |
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MAC Address
Media Access Control. A unique address associated with an Ethernet Card. |
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Modem
A device that adapts a computer to a telephone line. It converts the computers digital pulses into audio frequencies (analog) for the telephone system and converts the frequencies back into pulses at the receiving side. |
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NIC
Network Interface Card. An internal PCI card used to provide connectivity to networked devices.
FastAccess uses an Ethernet NIC to connect the personal computer to the ADSL modem (or to the jack itself in some locations).
Below is a picture of a common Ethernet NIC used for FastAccess Service.
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NID
Network Interface Device. A device that terminates copper pairs from the serving central office at the user’s destination and which is typically located outside that location. It also provides an interface and demarcation point between the network and customer premises equipment. |
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PCI Slot
Peripheral Component Interface.
The PCI can be found by opening your computer.
The slot is an internal opening within your desktop computer into which additional computer components can be inserted.
A PCI slot can be identified by its white color, size (about 3 inches) and location (usually next to the internal modem card or other internal game cards).
To the right is a picture of a PCI slot within a common desktop computer.
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POP3
Post Office Protocol. An Internet protocol that enables a single user to read e-mail from a mail server. |
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POTS
Plain Old Telephone Service. POTS refers to a single line, measured or flat rate, telephone service that could be used as either a business line or residence line. |
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PPPoA
Point to Point over Asynchronous Transfer Mode |
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Static IP
A Static IP Address is a "fixed" IP address assigned to a specific
computer or other device on a network. The IP address remains the same
and is associated with that computer or device.
IP Addresses are numbers used to identify a specific device connected to
the Internet, much like a phone number is used to identify a specific
telephone. An IP address is organized into four groups of numbers
separated by periods, or dots, such as 204.32.345.61. Every device
connected to the Internet has a unique IP Address. For instance, a web
site such as www.johnsmith.com would be assigned a unique numeric IP
Address (192.168.70.10). When a user types www.johnsmith.com their
browser, the software goes to an Internet directory, finds that the web
site "lives" at IP Address (192.168.70.10), and connects to that address
over the World Wide Web.
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Streaming Audio
Audio transmission over a data network. The term implies a one-way transmission to the listener, in which both the client and the server cooperate for uninterrupted sound. (See Streaming Video) |
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Streaming Video
Video transmission over a data network. The term implies a one-way transmission to the viewer, in which both the client and the server cooperate for uninterrupted sound. (See Streaming Audio) |
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URL
Uniform Resource Locator. This is the equivalent of having the phone number of a place you want to call. It identifies the protocol, host name and file name of the Internet resources you want, such as web pages and FTP sites. |
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USB
 Universal
Serial Bus. A "plug and play" interface between a computer and add-on devices
(such as audio players, joysticks, keyboards, telephones, scanners, and printers). With USB, a new
device can be added to your computer without having to add an adapter card or even having to turn
the computer off. The USB peripheral bus standard was developed by Compaq, IBM, DEC, Intel, Microsoft,
NEC, and Northern Telecom and the technology is available without charge for all computer and device
vendors. |
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USB Modem
An external DSL modem that connects to your computer through an open USB port and enables high-speed Internet access.
This type of modem enables a plug and play environment.
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