DSL Network Guide Glossary
Access concentrators A router that negotiates your connection with your ISP.
ADSL Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line. DSL that has different upload and download speeds. Usually the download speed is faster than the upload speed.
ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode. Protocol used to carry data between the ISP and telco central office.
ATM Switch Box that communicates the DSL signal over ATM layers between the telco CO and the ISP CO.
B-Box Also referred to as a cross connect box.
CLEC Competative Local Exchange Carrier. This company leases the telephone lines from the ILEC for a fee.
CO Central Office. The place where telephone companies terminate customer lines and locate switching equipment to interconnect those lines with other networks.
DNS Domain Name Server. A name that references a computers IP address.
DSL Digital Subscriber Line. A means of transporting high speed internet service over telephone lines.
EMI Electro Magnetic Interference. Electronic waves that can interfere with other electronic devices.
Homerun A cat5 cable that runs directly from the NID to the wall jack.
ILEC Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier. This is the company that owns the telephone network.
IP Address An address assigned by the ISP when a connection is established that the computers on the internet use to locate each other.
ISP Internet Service Provider. A company that provides internet service.
LDAP Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. Stores the usernames and passwords.
MPOE Minimum Point Of Entry. Also referred to as a NID. A box where all the telephone wiring in a building meets and connects to the telco network outside of the building.
Modem Terminates the DSL signal at the customers premises. Converts the computer signal into something that can travel over the DSL network. Also turns the DSL signal into somethat your computer can read.
NIC Network Interface Card. Provides your computer with a port for establishing an ethernet connection.
NID Network Interface Device. Also referred to as an MPOE. A box where all the telephone wiring in a building meets and connects to the telco network outside of the building.
NID Splitter A device that sits in the NID and splits the DSL and dial-up signals before they enter the house.
POTS Plain Old Telephone Service.
PPPoA Point-to-Point Protocol Over ATM. An authentication protocol most DSL providers used to use. Most have switched to PPPoE now.
PPPoE Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet. The most popular authentication protocol used by DSL providers.
Radius Server Stores every authentication attempt.
RT Remote Terminal. A miniature central office.
TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The standard protocol used for the internet.
Telco Telephone Company.
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