LOCAL AREA OR LOCAL AREA NETWORK CONNECTION

LAN as used in this document means specific versions of IEEE 802.1, 802.3, and other standards applicable to network interfaces, referenced in a manufacturer’s product documentation. Terms such as 10BT, 10/100BT, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, and 1000BT are informal references. Where doubt exists, it is recommended that designers rely on direct personal knowledge of formal IEEE or other applicable standards and seek clarification of applicability to a particular manufacturer’s products from a representative knowledgeable about design details of the equipment.

Each standard Ethernet interface is assigned a unique 48-bit identification code by the original equipment manufacturer pursuant to a registry agent defined in IEEE standards. This code is referred to as a MAC address (meaning Media Access Control). The MAC address is inserted into Ethernet packets and enables devices connected to the LAN to establish sessions and route packets around or outside the LAN. When packets are routed outside the LAN, it’s likely the MAC address is translated to an IP address, which becomes the basis for IP network transport. MAC and IP addresses are the functional equivalent of telephone numbers.

Ethernet interfaces enable user access, and connectivity between system components and peer platforms. The minimum required configuration is a simple Ethernet LAN segment. In more complex arrangements, the LAN segment provides access to MAN and WAN network facilities and services. If the network facilities are designed and implemented properly, use of any application on the system by any user with network access and user privileges is possible.

Most operating systems including LAN interface drivers permit manual or automatic, so-called plug-and-play configuration of the network interface. Microsoft Windows 2000 Workstation and Server and Windows XP Professional workstation include real-time communications client software. If the NIC is capable of being configured for QOS, then end-to-end real-time content transport is possible if it is configured. This is the first step in gaining end-to-end real-time content transport across the network between server platforms.