Glossary

A

Art-Net:
Art-Net 3 Ethernet communication standard. A protocol for transmitting the lighting control protocol DMX 512-A over the User Datagram Protocol of the Internet Protocol suite.

ARP (= Address Resolution Protocol):
A telecommunication protocol used for resolution of network layer addresses into link layer addresses, a critical function in multiple-access networks. To create ARP filter, see Create New Filter.

D

DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol):
Is a standardized network protocol used on Internet Protocol (IP) networks for dynamically distributing network configuration parameters, such as IP addresses for interfaces and services. With DHCP, computers request IP addresses and networking parameters automatically from a DHCP server, reducing the need for a network administrator or a user to configure these settings manually.

E

Ethernet:
Is a local network with bus topology, what allows multiply devices access at the same time. It is used for communication between light consoles.

G

Groups:
A logical segment of network users and resources grouped by function, team, or application. This segmentation is without regard to the physical location of the users and resources. Also known as VLAN.

I

IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol):
A protocol that manages how adapters and other components join and leave multicast groups. IGMP snooping is a feature of IGMP that allows Ethernet switches to look (snoop) inside packets to determine which destinations really need to receive the data.

K

KiNET:
A protocol used by Color Kinetics to control their LED fixtures and power supplies.

L

LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol):
Used by network devices for advertising their identity, capabilities, and neighbors on an IEEE 802 local area network. LLDP will be disabled or enabled along with RSTP. For more information, see Edit RSTP.

M

MA-Net2:
Integral part of the MA System architecture. All MA series 2 devices are connected via the MA-Net2 as if they were one device. All of these components contain all system data that is needed to control the processes and to synchronize the outputs in real-time.

Mbps (Megabit per second):
Unit of data transfer rate. The data transfer rate of the etherCON ports is 10/100/1000 Mbps.

Mini-Gbic (Gigabit Interface Converter):
A transceiver that converts electric currents (digital highs and lows) to another signal types. Mostly optical signals. The Gbic is typically employed in fiber optic and Ethernet systems as an interface for high-speed networking. The data transfer rate is one gigabit per second (1 Gbps) or more.
There are two Mini-Gbic cages at the rear panel and two inside of the MA Network Switch.

R

RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol):
Provides significantly faster spanning tree convergence after a topology change, introducing new convergence behaviors and bridge port roles to do this.

S

sACN (streaming Architecture for Control Networks)
ANSI E1.31-2009. A protocol to transport DMX512 data over IP networks.

SFP (Small form-factor pluggable):
A specification for a new generation of optical modular transceivers. The devices are designed for use with small form factor (SFF) connectors, and offer high speed and physical compactness.

Spanning Tree:
Used with network topologies that provide more than one physical path between two devices, spanning tree protocol manages path redundancies while preventing undesirable loops in the network. If a fault should occur on an active port, the switch will begin transmitting out one of the blocked ports.

T

Trunk:
This is the name given to the interconnection links between switches in a network. The Trunk links are meant to forward the groups based packets. In most case, the Trunk links will be the redundant links.

V

VLAN (Virtual local-area network):
Refer to, Groups.