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BREAKING THE ACRONYM BARRIER

DSL SERVICES AND TERMS

There are a lot of acronyms that get tossed around seemingly at random when discussing DSL services. The following definitions should help you understand a little bit more about the way that your DSL service and connection works.

Anonymous FTP:

Using the Internet's File Transfer Protocol, anonymous FTP is a method for giving users access to files so that they don't need to identify themselves to the server. Using an FTP program or the FTP command interface, the user enters "anonymous" as a user ID. Usually, the password is defaulted or furnished by the FTP server. Anonymous FTP is a common way to get access to a server in order to view or download files that are publicly available.

If someone tells you to use anonymous FTP and gives you the server name, just remember to use the word "anonymous" for your user ID. Usually, you can enter anything as a password.

ATM:

Asynchronous Transfer Mode. This is the network transfer protocol which we use to power our DSL services. The small, constant data cell size forced by this protocol allows ATM equipment to transmit video, audio, and computer data over the same network, and assures that no single type of data is able to ‘hog’ the line.

DSL:

Digital Subscriber Line. A method of connecting to the internet directly through the telephone line, without the use of a dial-up modem. Generally regarded as supplying a faster, more reliable connection than traditional analog services.

There are two main types of DSL service: ADSL (Asynchronous DSL), in which you have different upstream and downstream speeds, and SDSL (Synchronous DSL), in which both upstream and downstream speeds are matched. Our Basic, Enhanced and Business services are ADSL, while our Long-Reach DSL offering is SDSL.

DHCP:

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. DHCP is one of the more standard protocols for assigning dynamic IP addresses to devices on a network. With dynamic addressing, a computer will have a different IP address every time it connects to the network.

DNS:

Domain Name System. The way that Internet domain names are located and translated into Internet Protocol addresses. A domain name is a meaningful and easy-to-remember "handle" for an Internet address.

Because maintaining a central list of domain name/IP address correspondences would be impractical, the lists of domain names and IP addresses are distributed throughout the Internet in a hierarchy of authority. There is probably a DNS server within close geographic proximity to your access provider that maps the domain names in your Internet requests or forwards them to other servers in the Internet.

DSLAM:

Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer. The DSLAM is the mechanism at the local Central Office that links many customer DSL connections to a single high-speed ATM line.

FTP:

File Transfer Protocol. A standard Internet protocol, is the simplest way to exchange files between computers on the Internet. Like the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, which transfers displayable Web pages and related files, and the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, which transfers e-mail, FTP is an application protocol that uses the Internet's TCP/IP protocols. FTP is commonly used to transfer Web page files from their creator to the computer that acts as their server for everyone on the Internet. It's also commonly used to downloading programs and other files to your computer from other servers.

GPF:

General Protection Fault. A phrase that users of personal computers see when an application program they are running (for example, Microsoft Word or the Netscape Web browser) tries to access storage that is not designated for their use. An operating system (such as Windows 95) manages the use of random access memory (random access memory) for its own needs and for those of the application programs that it manages. The application programs are actually managed as task. When a task attempts to write to a place in RAM that is outside its assigned storage area, the operating system requires that the task or application be closed. Users usually get a message that tells you this is happening, but there isn't much you can do about it other than to restart the program and hope it will run successfully the next time.

If an application program were to be able to write outside of its assigned storage area, it could overwrite other applications' or the operating system's instructions and data. (If that should happen, the operating system would "crash" or close down in some way and you would have to reboot the operating system.) Closing down the errant application protects other applications and the operating system.

A general protection fault is more likely to occur when you are trying out beta test-version software. However, even well-seasoned applications can cause a general protection fault because a user hits some combination of keys in quick succession that the programmer could not easily anticipate. A general protection fault can also occur because a system setting is wrong. If you repeatedly encounter the same general protection fault message, record the details (you are usually given a string of digits that identify exactly where in storage the error is occurring) and call the company that makes the software that seems to be causing the message.

HTTP:

Hypertext Transfer Protocol. Set of rules for exchanging files (text, graphic images, sound, video, and other multimedia files) on the World Wide Web. Relative to the TCP/IP suite of protocol (which are the basis for information exchange on the Internet), HTTP is an application protocol.

Essential concepts that are part of HTTP include (as its name implies) the idea that files can contain references to other files whose selection will elicit additional transfer requests. Any Web server machine contains, in addition to the HTML and other files it can serve, an HTTP daemon, a program that is designed to wait for HTTP requests and handle them when they arrive. Your Web browser is an HTTP client, sending requests to server machines. When the browser user enters file requests by either "opening" a Web file (typing in a Uniform Resource Locator) or clicking on a hypertext link, the browser builds an HTTP request and sends it to the Internet Protocol address indicated by the URL. The HTTP daemon in the destination server machine receives the request and, after any necessary processing, the requested file is returned.

IMAP:

Internet Message Access Protocol. A standard protocol for accessing e-mail from your local server. IMAP (the latest version is IMAP4) is a client/server protocol in which e-mail is received and held for you by your Internet server. You (or your e-mail client) can view just the heading and the sender of the letter and then decide whether to download the mail. You can also create and manipulate folders or mailboxes on the server, delete messages, or search for certain parts or an entire note. IMAP requires continual access to the server during the time that you are working with your mail.

LAN:

Local Area Network. A group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line and typically share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (for example, within an office building). Usually, the server has applications and data storage that are shared in common by multiple computer users. A local area network may serve as few as two or three users (for example, in a home network) or many as thousands of users (for example, in an FDDI network). A larger network over more areas would be a WAN.

MLT:

Mechanized loop test. Run by the PCO to check for capacity, synch rate, decibel level and resistance that might indicate shorts in the line or other problems.

POP3:

Post Office Protocol 3. The most recent version of a standard protocol for receiving e-mail. POP3 is a client/server protocol in which e-mail is received and held for you by your Internet server. Periodically, you (or your client e-mail receiver) check your mail-box on the server and download any mail.

PPPoA:

Point to Point Protocol over ATM Cloud. A form of DSL service which authenticates to our servers through an ATM connection. One of the Dynamic DSL services we provide.

PPPoE:

Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet. A form of DSL service which authenticates to our servers through an Ethernet connection. One of the Dynamic DSL services we provide.

PPPoX:

The generic term for both PPPoE and PPPoX connections.

RJ-11:

Modular connector that supports 2 pairs of telephone wire. Used to connect the DSL line wall jack to the DSL modem or router at customer premise.

RJ-45:

Modular connector that supports up to 4 pairs of copper wires. Used with 10baseT cabling for connecting computer, DSL modems & routers to a hub on an Ethernet network.

SMTP:

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. A TCP/IP protocol used in sending and receiving e-mail. However, since it's limited in its ability to queue messages at the receiving end, it's usually used with one of two other protocols, POP3 or Internet Message Access Protocol, that let the user save messages in a server mailbox and download them periodically from the server. In other words, users typically use a program that uses SMTP for sending e-mail and either POP3 or IMAP for receiving messages that have been received for them at their local server.

TCP/IP:

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The basic communication language or protocol of the Internet. TCP/IP is a two-layering program. The higher layer, Transmission Control Protocol, manages the assembling of a message or file into smaller packet that are transmitted over the Internet and received by a TCP layer that reassembles the packets into the original message. The lower layer, Internet Protocol, handles the address part of each packet so that it gets to the right destination. Each gateway computer on the network checks this address to see where to forward the message. Even though some packets from the same message are routed differently than others, they'll be reassembled at the destination.

TCP/IP uses the client/server model of communication in which a computer user (a client) requests and is provided a service (such as sending a Web page) by another computer (a server) in the network. TCP/IP communication is primarily point-to-point, meaning each communication is from one point (or host computer) in the network to another point or host computer. TCP/IP and the higher-level applications that use it are collectively said to be "stateless" because each client request is considered a new request unrelated to any previous one (unlike ordinary phone conversations that require a dedicated connection for the call duration). Being stateless frees network paths so that everyone can use them continuously. (Note that the TCP layer itself is not stateless as far as any one message is concerned. Its connection remains in place until all packets in a message have been received.)

Many Internet users are familiar with the even higher layer application protocols that use TCP/IP to get to the Internet. These include the World Wide Web's Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the File Transfer Protocol, Telnet (Telnet) which lets you logon to remote computers, and the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. These and other protocols are often packaged together with TCP/IP as a "suite."

UART:

Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter. A microchip with programming that controls a computer's interface to its attached serial devices. Specifically, it provides the computer with the RS-232C Data Terminal Equipment interface so that it can "talk" to and exchange data with modems and other serial devices.

URL:

Uniform Resource Locator (pronounced YU-AHR-EHL or, in some quarters, UHRL). Is the address of a file (resource) accessible on the Internet. The type of resource depends on the Internet application protocol used.

USB:

Universal Serial Bus. A "plug and play" interface between a computer and add-on devices (such as audio players, joysticks, keyboards, telephones, scanners, and printers). With USB, a new device can be added to your computer without having to add an adapter card or even having to turn the computer off.

VC:

Virtual Circuit. Used in combination with VP to define a path through the DSLAM.

VP:

Virtual Path. Used in combination with VC to define a path through the DSLAM.

WAN:

Wide Area Network. A geographically dispersed telecommunications network and the term distinguishes a broader telecommunication structure from a LAN.

WWW:

World Wide Web. All the resources and users on the Internet that are using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol

 

SERVICE GROUPS AND DEPARTMENTS

There are many groups and departments involved in bringing you the best possible DSL services. Here are a few of the groups which you may encounter or hear mentioned while discussing your service.

ASI:

Advanced Solutions Incorporated. The branch of the telephone company in charge of installation and billing of your DSL services.

CO:

Central Office. The Central Office is the telephone company location closest to your home, which supplies the necessary wiring for your DSL services to function.

EPC:

The Emerging Products Center. This group is also occasionally referred to as ‘DSL Ordering’. All DSL orders and cancellations must first be processed through the EPC. No other groups can order or cancel DSL services.

PCO:

The Plant Control Office. This group is also occasionally referred to as ‘DSL Maintenance’. This is the telephone maintenance group which deals with DSL equipment and line repairs.

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