MicroNet Technology SP3367A Manuel D’Utilisation

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bridge itself; the bridge is thus transparent to the communicating 
workstations. It involves frame forwarding, learning workstation addresses 
and ensuring no topology loops exist (in conjunction with the 
Spanning-Tree algorithm). 

User Datagram Protocol - A connectionless transport protocol that runs on 
top of TCP/IP's IP. UDP, like TCP, uses IP for delivery; however, unlike TCP, 
UDP provides for exchange of datagrams without acknowledgments or 
guaranteed delivery. Best suited for small, independent requests, such as 
requesting a MIB value from an SNMP agent, in which first setting up a 
connection would take more time than sending the data. 

User Network Interface signaling for ATM communications. 

A link that seems and behaves like a dedicated point-to-point line or a 
system that delivers packets in sequence, as happens on an actual 
point-to-point network. In reality, the data is delivered across a network via 
the most appropriate route. The sending and receiving devices do not have 
to be aware of the options and the route is chosen only when a message is 
sent. There is no pre-arrangement, so each virtual connection exists only 
for the duration of that one transmission. 

Wide area network - A data communications network that spans any 
distance and is usually provided by a public carrier (such as a telephone 
company or service provider).