Technical and Economic Assessment of Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)
Sources used to compile this glossary were Webopedia (http://www.pcwebopedia.com/) and hyperdictionary (http://www.hyperdictionary.com/).
3GPP: 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a GSM-based consortium advocating standardization for mobile communications, who published Release Five of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standard mandating the use of IPv6 by wireless vendors.
Always-on applications: Applications that are always able to accept a connection from a host on the Internet. Such applications need to be running on a host that has a unique, globally accessible IP address. An increase in the number of always-on application would require a concomitant increase in IP address space.
APNIC: Abbreviation for the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre, one of four nonprofit organizations that register and administer IP addresses. APNIC serves the Asia Pacific region, which consists of 62 economies.
Application layer: The top layer of the OSI seven-layer model. This layer handles issues like network transparency, resource allocation, and problem partitioning. The application layer is concerned with the user's view of the network (e.g., formatting electronic mail messages).
ARIN: Acronym for the American Registry for Internet Numbers. ARIN, founded in 1997, is a nonprofit organization that registers and administers IP numbers for North America, a portion of the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa. ARIN is one of four regional Internet registries.
B2B solutions: Short for business-to-business, the exchange of services, information, and/or products from one business to another, as opposed to between a business and a consumer (B2C).
Backbone ISP: A large ISP that manages Internet traffic on a national or regional scale, using extremely large routers and other hardware and software network components.
Billing system: System that tracks customer usage of services, and calculates the impact on a customer's account, based on the price of the services. Billing systems have come to include noncore functionality such as customer management, integration with payment gateways, and statistical analysis.
Bit: Short for binary digit, the smallest unit of information on a machine. A single bit can hold only one of two values: 0 or 1. More meaningful information is obtained by combining consecutive bits into larger units. For example, a byte is composed of 8 consecutive bits.
Bootstrap Protocol: Allows a diskless client machine to discover its own IP address, the address of a server host, and the name of a file to be loaded into memory and executed.
Byte: Binary term, a unit of storage capable of holding a single character. On almost all modern computers, a byte is equal to 8 bits. Large amounts of memory are indicated in terms of kilobytes (1,024 bytes), megabytes (1,048,576 bytes), and gigabytes (1,073,741,824 bytes).
Conformance test: A test performed by an independent body to determine if a particular piece of equipment satisfies the criteria in a specified controlling document, such as a Federal standard, an American National Standard, a Military Standard, or a Military Specification.
Data link layer: Layer two, the second lowest layer in the OSI seven-layer model—it splits data into frames for sending on the physical layer and receives acknowledgement frames. It performs error checking and retransmits frames not received correctly. It provides an error-free virtual channel to the network layer. The data link layer is split into an upper sublayer, Logical Link Control (LLC), and a lower sublayer, Media Access Control (MAC).
Diffserv: Is an architecture for providing different types or levels of service for network traffic. One key characteristic of diffserv is that flows are aggregated in the network, so that core routers only need to distinguish a comparably small number of aggregated flows, even if those flows contain thousands or millions of individual flows.
DNS: Short for Domain Name System (or Service), an Internet directory service that translates alphabetic domain names into numeric IP addresses. Because domain names are alphabetic, they're easier to remember. The Internet however, is really based on numeric IP addresses. Every time you use a domain name in an e-mail address or Web address, the name must be translated into a corresponding IP address. For example, the domain name www.cisco.com might translate to 198.105.232.4. DNS servers hold the directories that translate a name to an IP address.
The DNS system is, in fact, its own hierarchical network. If one DNS server doesn't know how to translate a particular domain name, it asks, or refers the requestor, to another one, and so on, until the correct IP address is resolved.
Domain Name: A name that generally identifies an organization on the Internet (e.g., Cisco.com). Multiple host URLs can be specified in each domain (e.g., www.support.cisco.com, www.sales.cisco.com, etc.). Each name (or URL) corresponds to a numeric IP address which may be retrieved (resolved) by contacting the appropriate Domain Name Server.
DSL: Refers collectively to all types of digital subscriber lines; the two main categories are ADSL and SDSL. Two other types of xDSL technologies are high-data-rate DSL (HDSL) and very high DSL (VDSL). DSL technologies use sophisticated modulation schemes to pack data onto copper wires.
Dual stack: A network node running both IPv4 and IPv6 protocol stacks (or possibly others) at the same time. Such a machine can act as a protocol converter between the two networks.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol: A protocol for assigning dynamic IP addresses to devices on a network. With dynamic addressing, a device can have a different IP address every time it connects to the network. In some systems, the device's IP address can even change while it is still connected. DHCP also supports a mix of static and dynamic IP addresses. Dynamic addressing simplifies network administration because the software keeps track of IP addresses rather than requiring an administrator to manage the task. This means that a new computer can be added to a network without the hassle of manually assigning it a unique IP address. Many ISPs use dynamic IP addressing for dial-up users.
End-to-end applications (E2E): applications which communicate on the Internet in such a way that each application can originate a direct connection to the other.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software: A business management system that integrates all facets of the business, including planning, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. As the ERP methodology has become more popular, software applications have emerged to help business managers implement ERP in business activities such as inventory control, order tracking, customer service, finance, and human resources.
Firewalls: A system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network. Firewalls can be implemented in both hardware and software, or a combination of both. Firewalls are frequently used to prevent unauthorized Internet users from accessing private networks connected to the Internet, especially intranets. All messages entering or leaving the intranet pass through the firewall, which examines each message and blocks those that do not meet the specified security criteria.
Global Information Grid (GIG): Globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities, associated processes, and personnel for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating, and managing information on demand to warfighters, policy makers, and support personnel.
GSM: Short for Global System for Mobile Communications, one of the leading digital cellular standards. GSM uses narrowband TDMA, which allows eight simultaneous calls on the same radio frequency. GSM was first introduced in 1991. As of the end of 1997, GSM service was available in more than 100 countries and has become the de facto standard in Europe and Asia.
Header: The header is the part of a packet containing administrative information (such as destination address or encryption type). The header is used by the network and/or host in delivering and presenting the payload information to the recipient application.
Host: (1) A computer that is connected to a TCP/IP network, including the Internet. Each host has a unique IP address. The system that contains the data is typically called the host, while the computer at which the user sits is called the remote terminal; (2) A computer system that is accessed by a user working at a remote location.
IETF: Internet Engineering Task Force, the main standards organization for the Internet. The IETF is a large open international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers concerned with the evolution of the Internet architecture and the smooth operation of the Internet. It is open to any interested individual.
Instant messenger: Allows users to send and receive short messages instantly.
Interoperability: The ability of software and hardware on different machines from different vendors to share data.
Internet2: a consortium being led by 206 universities working in partnership with industry and government to develop and deploy advanced network applications and technologies, accelerating the creation of tomorrow's Internet. Internet2 is recreating the partnership among academia, industry, and government that fostered today´s Internet in its infancy.
Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP): An extension to the Internet Protocol (IP) that allows for the generation of error messages, test packets, and informational messages related to IP. It is defined in STD 5, RFC 792.
Internet Protocol (IP): IP specifies the format of packets, also called datagrams, and the addressing scheme. Most networks combine IP with a higher-level protocol called Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), which establishes a virtual connection between a destination and a source. IP by itself is something like the postal system. It allows users to address a package and drop it in the system, but there is no direct link between the user and the recipient. TCP/IP, on the other hand, establishes a connection between two hosts so that they can send messages back and forth for a period of time.
Internet service provider (ISP): A company that provides access to the Internet. For a monthly fee, the service provider gives users a software package, username, password, and access phone number. Equipped with a modem, users can then log on to the Internet and browse the World Wide Web and USENET and send and receive e-mail. In addition to serving individuals, ISPs also serve large companies, providing a direct connection from the company’s networks to the Internet. ISPs themselves are connected to one another through Network Access Points (NAPs). ISPs are also called IAPs (Internet Access Providers).
IP stack: A particular software implementation of a computer networking protocol suite. Strictly speaking, the suite is the definition of the protocols and the stack is the software implementation of them.
IPv4: Internet protocol version 4. IPv4 is the current IP version used on the Internet.
IPv6: Internet protocol version 6. IPv6 is the latest iteration of IP for the Internet.
Moonv6: A collaborative effort
between the North American IPv6 Task Force (NAv6TF), the University of
New Hampshire-InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), the Joint
Interoperability Testing Command (JITC) and various other DoD agencies,
and Internet2. Taking place across the
Network layer: The third lowest layer in the OSI seven-layer model, the network layer determines routing of packets of data from sender to receiver via the data link layer and is used by the transport layer. The most common network layer protocol is IP.
Node: In networks, a processing location, so a node can be a computer or some other device, such as a printer. Every node has a unique network address, sometimes called a Data Link Control (DLC) address or Media Access Control (MAC) address.
North American IPv6 Task Force (NAV6TF): A subchapter of the IPv6 Forum dedicated to advancing and propagating IPv6 (Internet Protocol, version 6) in the North American continent. Comprising individual, rather than corporate, membership, the NAv6TF mission is to provide technical leadership and innovative thought for the successful integration of IPv6 into all facets of networking and telecommunications infrastructure, present and future.
OSI or OSI seven-layer model: A model of network architecture and a suite of protocols (a protocol stack) to implement it, developed by ISO in 1978 as a framework for international standards in heterogeneous computer network architecture. The OSI architecture is split between seven layers, from lowest to highest: 1 physical layer, 2 data link layer, 3 network layer, 4 transport layer, 5 session layer, 6 presentation layer, 7 application layer. Each layer uses the layer immediately below it and provides a service to the layer above. In some implementations a layer may itself be composed of sublayers.
OSPF (Open Shortest Path First): An interior gateway routing protocol developed for IP networks based on the shortest path first or link-state algorithm.
Packet: A piece of a message transmitted over a packet-switching network. One of the key features of a packet is that it contains the destination address in addition to the data. In IP networks, packets are often called datagrams and are comprised of an “administrative” header and a payload
Physical layer: Layer one, the lowest layer, in the OSI seven-layer model, concerning electrical and mechanical connections to the network. The physical layer is used by the data link layer. Example physical layer protocols are CSMA/CD, token ring, and bus.
Protocol: An agreed-upon format for transmitting data between two devices. The protocol determines the type of error checking to be used; data compression method, if any; how the sending device will indicate that it has finished sending a message; and how the receiving device will indicate that it has received a message. There are a variety of standard protocols from which programmers can choose. Each has particular advantages and disadvantages; for example, some are simpler than others, some are more reliable, and some are faster.
Proxy: A device that acts on behalf of another device by taking on its identity to interact with the outside world.
RIPE NCC: Short for the Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre, RIPE NCC is one of four regional Internet registries that supply and administer IP addresses. Founded in 1989, RIPE NCC is a nonprofit organization. RIPE NCC provides IP numbers to Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Africa and Asia.
Router: A device that forwards data packets along networks, a router is connected to at least two networks, commonly two LANs or WANs or a LAN and its ISP’s network. Routers are located at gateways, the places where two or more networks connect. Routers use headers and forwarding tables to determine the best path for forwarding the packets, and they use protocols such as ICMP to communicate with each other and configure the best route between any two hosts.
Segment: In networks, a section of a network that is bounded by bridges, routers, or switches. Dividing an Ethernet into multiple segments is one of the most common ways of increasing available bandwidth on the LAN. Most network traffic will remain within a single segment, enjoying the full 10 Mbps bandwidth. Hubs and switches are used to connect each segment to the rest of the LAN.
Server: A computer or device on a network that manages network resources. For example, a file server is a computer and storage device dedicated to storing files. Any user on the network can store files on the server. A print server is a computer that manages one or more printers. A database server is a computer system that processes database queries. Servers are often dedicated, meaning that they perform no other tasks besides their specific server tasks. On multiprocessing operating systems, however, a single computer can execute several programs at once. A server in this case could refer to the program that is managing resources rather than the entire computer.
Translation: the process of translating one protocol to another such that users of either protocol can communicate in their native mode. Limitations arise when one protocol has elements which can not be translated into the other protocol.
Transport layer (Or "host-host layer"): The middle layer in the OSI seven-layer model. The transport layer uses the network layer to establish a conversation between two hosts. An example is the transmission control protocol (TCP), which provides a virtually error-free point-to-point connection that allows messages to arrive uncorrupted and in the correct order.
Tunneling: A technology that enables one network to send its data via another network’s connections. Tunneling works by encapsulating a network protocol within packets carried by the second network. For example, Microsoft’s PPTP technology enables organizations to use the Internet to transmit data across a VPN. It does this by embedding its own network protocol within the TCP/IP packets carried by the Internet. Tunneling is also called encapsulation.
UMTS: Short for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, a 3G mobile technology that will deliver broadband information at speeds up to 2Mbps. Besides voice and data, UMTS will deliver audio and video to wireless devices anywhere in the world through fixed, wireless, and satellite systems.
VoIP: Voice over IP. Using an IP network to carry voice data.
WAPI: China’s Wi-Fi GB 15629.11-2003 encryption standard, which differs from the existing IEEE 802.11 global standard.