Glossary: CCNA & General Networking Terms 

 

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OCLC
See: Online Computer Library Catalog
octet
An octet is 8 bits. This term is used in networking, rather than byte, because some systems have bytes that are not 8 bits long. [Source: RFC1392]
ODBC
Open DataBase Connectivity. An application programming interface to allow programs to use databases, using Structured Query Language as its database access language.
OIW
Workshop for Implementors of OSI. Frequently called NIST OIW or the NIST Workshop, this is the North American regional forum at which OSI implementation agreements are decided. It is equivalent to EWOS in Europe and AOW in the Pacific. [Source: RFC1208]
ONC(tm)
Open Network Computing. A distributed applications architecture promoted and controlled by a consortium led by Sun Microsystems. [Source: RFC1208]
Online Computer Library Catalog
OCLC is a nonprofit membership organization offering computer- based services to libraries, educational organizations, and their users. The OCLC library information network connects more than 10,000 libraries worldwide. Libraries use the OCLC System for cataloging, interlibrary loan, collection development, bibliographic verification, and reference searching. [Source: OCLC]
Open Shortest-Path First (OSPF)
A link state, as opposed to distance vector, routing protocol. It is an Internet standard IGP defined in RFC 1583 and RFC 1793. The multicast version, MOSPF, is defined in RFC 1584. See also: Interior Gateway Protocol, Routing Information Protocol. [Source: RFC1392]
Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)
A suite of protocols, designed by ISO committees, to be the international standard computer network architecture. See also: International Organization for Standardization. [Source: RFC1392]
OSI
See: Open Systems Interconnection
OSI Network Address
The address, consisting of up to 20 octets, used to locate an OSI Transport entity. The address is formatted into an Initial Domain Part which is standardized for each of several addressing domains, and a Domain Specific Part which is the responsibility of the addressing authority for that domain. [Source: RFC1208]
OSI Presentation Address
The address used to locate an OSI Application entity. It consists of an OSI Network Address and up to three selectors, one each for use by the Transport, Session, and Presentation entities. [Source: RFC1208]
OSI Reference Model
A seven-layer structure designed to describe computer network architectures and the way that data passes through them. This model was developed by the ISO in 1978 to clearly define the interfaces in multivendor networks, and to provide users of those networks with conceptual guidelines in the construction of such networks. See also: International Organization for Standardization. [Source: NNSC]
OSPF
See: Open Shortest-Path First

 

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