FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet)
FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet) is a storage protocol that enable Fibre Channel communications to run directly over Ethernet. FCoE makes it possible to move Fibre Channel traffic across existing high-speed Ethernet infrastructure and converges storage and IP protocols onto a single cable transport and interface.
The goal of FCoE is to consolidate input/output (I/O) and reduce switch complexity as well as to cut back on cable and interface card counts...
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Network
What is an enterprise WAN?
What is an enterprise WAN?
What is an enterprise WAN?
An enterprise WAN is a corporate network that connects geographically dispersed users areas that could be anywhere in the world. As is the case with most WANs, an enterprise WAN (wide area network) links LANs in multiple locations. The enterprise in question often owns and manages the networking equipment within the LANs. However, the LANs are generally connected by a service provider. An enterprise WAN often also has additional remote ...
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Frame Relay Definition
Frame Relay Definition
Frame relay is a packet-switching telecommunication service designed for cost-efficient data transmission for intermittent traffic between local area networks (LANs) and between endpoints in wide area networks (WANs). The service, once widely available and implemented, is in the process of being discontinued by major Internet service providers. Sprint ended its frame relay service in 2007, while Verizon said it plans to phase out the service in 2015. AT&T stopped offe...
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Bandwidth Definition
Bandwidth Definition
There are three frequently used definitions of bandwidth in the context of Information Technology (IT) and general business.1) In computer networks, bandwidth is used as a synonym for data transfer rate, the amount of data that can be carried from one point to another in a given time period (usually a second). Network bandwidth is usually expressed in bits per second (bps); modern networks typically have speeds measured in the millions of bits per second (megabits per s...
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Network Time Protocol (NTP)
Network Time Protocol (NTP)
Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a protocol used to synchronize computer clock times in a network. It belongs to and is one of the oldest parts of the TCP/IP protocol suite. The term NTP applies to both the protocol and the client-server programs that run on computers.
NTP, which was developed by David Mills at the University of Delaware in 1981, is designed to be highly fault-tolerant and scalable.
How does NTP work?
The NTP client initiates a time-request ex...
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Fiber Optics
Fiber Optics
Fiber optics, or optical fiber, refers to the medium and the technology associated with the transmission of information as light pulses along a glass or plastic strand or fiber. A fiber optic cable can contain a varying number of these glass fibers -- from a few up to a couple hundred. Surrounding the glass fiber core is another glass layer called cladding. A layer known as a buffer tube protects the cladding, and a jacket layer acts as the final protective layer for the individual...
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Edge Provider
Edge Provider
In communication services, an edge provider is a website, web service, web application, online content hosting or online content delivery service that customers connect to over the internet. Edge providers, which include Google, Amazon, Netflix and Facebook, use the customer's internet service provider (ISP) to deliver content.
In the United States, edge providers are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The choice of the word edge is intended to differentiate conte...
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Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is a ubiquitous type of copper cabling used in telephone wiring and local area networks (LANs). There are five types of UTP cables -- identified with the prefix CAT, as in category -- each supporting a different amount of bandwidth.
Alternatives to UTP cable include coaxial cable and fiber optic cable. There are benefits and tradeoffs to each type of cabling, but broadly speaking, most enterprises favor UTP cable due to its low ...
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subnet mask (subnetting)
subnet mask (subnetting)
A subnet mask is a 32- or 128-bit number that segments an existing IP address in a TCP/IP network and divides that address into discrete network and host addresses. The process of subnetting can further divide the host portion of an IP address into additional subnets to route traffic within the larger subnet.
IP address binary bits that represent a network are represented by a 1 in the subnet mask, and bits that represent a host appear as 0s. In a binary mask, for ex...
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Mbps (megabits per second)
Mbps (megabits per second)
Megabits per second (Mbps) are a unit of measurement for bandwidth and throughput on a network. Each megabit is equal to 1 million bits.
Mbps belongs to a family of metrics used to measure the capacity and speed of data transfer. The capacity smaller than Mbps is kilobits per second (Kbps), with the prefix kilo representing 1,000 bits per second, and higher than Mbps are gigabits per second (Gbps), with the prefix giga indicating 1 billion bits per second. Using th...
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