An Early List of Computer Acronyms
(Use "Ctrl F" or "Apple F" to type in the acronym and "find" what you're looking for.)
AAL
AARP
ABM
ABR
AC
ACF
ACK
ADM
ADSL
AIS
ANI
ANS
ANSI
API
APS
ARM
ARP
Async
ATM
AU
AUI
B8ZS
BCC
BCD
BECN
Bellcore
BER
BGP
BIP
B-ISDN
B-NT
BO
BOC
BOM
BootP
bps
BRI
BSC
B-TA
B-TE
CAD/CAM
CAN
ATM Adaptation Layer
AppleTalk Address Resolution Protocol
Asynchronous Balance Mode (HDLC)
Available Bit Rate
Access Control (IEEE)
Access Control Field (DQDB)
Acknowledgment
Add/Drop Multiplexer
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Links
Alarm Indication Signal (SONET)
Automatic Number Identification
American National Standards
American National Standards Institute
Application Programming Interface
Automatic Protection Switching
Asynchronous Response Mode (HDLC)
Address Resolution Protocol
Asynchronous
Asynchronous Transfer Mode
Access Unit (DQDB)
Attachment Unit Interface (Ethernet 802.3)
Bipolar with 8 Zero Substitution
Block Check Characters
Binary Coded Decimal
Backward Explicit Congestion Notification (FR)
Bell Communications Research
Bit Error Ratio or Rate
Border Gateway Protocol
Bit Interleaved Parity (8)
Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network
Broadband Network Terminator
Bit Oriented (SONET)
Bell Operating Company
Beginning of Message (DQDB)
Bootstrap Protocol
Bits per second or bytes per second
Basic Rate Interface (ISDN)
IBMÕs Binary Synchronous Communications protocol
Broadband Terminal Adapter (ATM)
Broadband Terminal Equipment (ATM)
Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing
Customer Access Node (SMDS)
CBDS
CBEMA
CBR
CCI
CCITT
CD
CE
CEPT
CIR
CL
CLEC
CLLM
CLNP
CLNS
CLSF
CMIP
CMIS
CMISE
CMT
CNMS
CO
COAM
COCF
COM
CONS
CPE
C/R
CRC
CS
CSMA/CD
CSU
CTI
DA
DAL
DARPA
DARPAnet
DAS
DCE
DCS
DDD
DDS
DE
DEC
DH
DHCP
DLCI
DMPDU
DNIS
DNS
Connectionless Broadband Data Service
Computer and Business Equipment Manufacturers Association
Constant Bit Rate
Carrier-to-Carrier Interface
Consultative Committee International Telegraph & Telephone
CountDown counter (DQDB)
Connection Endpoint
Conference on European Post & Telegraph
Committed Information Rate (FR)
Connectionless (SONET)
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier
Consolidated Link Layer Management (FR)
Connectionless Layer Network Protocol
ConnectionLess Network Service (OSI)
ConnectionLess Server Function (ITU-T)
Common Management Interface Protocol (ISO)
Common Management Information Service (ISO)
CMIS Element (ISO)
Connection Management (FDDI)
Customer Network Management System
Central Office
Customer Owned and Maintained
Connection-Oriented Convergence Function (DQDB)
Continuation of Message (DQDB)
Connection-Oriented Network Service (ITU-T)
Customer Premises Equipment
Command/Response Indicator or bit
Cyclic Redundancy Check or Test
Convergence Sublayer (DQDB)
Carrier-Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection
Channel Service Unit
Computer-to-telephony interface
Destination Address field
Dedicated Access Line
Defense Advanced Research Program Agency
Defense Advanced Research Program Agency network
Dual-Attach Station connection (FDDI)
Data Communications Equipment
Digital Cross-connect System
Direct Distance Dialing
Digital Data Service
Discard Eligibility (FR)
Digital Equipment Corporation
DMPDU Header (DQDB)
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
Data Link Connection Identifier (FR)
Derived MAC PDU (DQDB)
Directory Number Information Service
Distributed Naming Service
DPG
DoD
DQDB
DS0
DS1
DS3
DSAP
DSG
DSP
DSU
DT
DTE
DTMF
DVMRP
DXC
DXI
E1
E3
EA
ECN
ECSA
ED
EDI
EGP
EGRP
EIA
EIGRP
EIR
EMA
EOM
EOT
ES
ESF
ES-IS
ETB
ETSI
ETX
F
FC
FCS
FDDI
FDDI-II
FDM
FEBE
FEC
FECN
FERF
FIFO
FM
Dedicated Packet Group (FDDI)
Department of Defense
Distributed Queue Dual Bus (IEEE)
Digital Signal Level 0
Digital Signal Level 1
Digital Signal Level 3
Destination Service Access Point (LLC)
Default Slot Generator (DQDB)
Digital Signal Processor
Data Service Unit
DMPDU trailer (DQDB)
Data Terminal Equipment
Dual Tone MultiFrequency
Distance Vector MulticaRouting Protocol
Digital Cross-Connect
Data Exchange Interface (SMDS, ATM)
European Transmission Level 1
European Transmission Level 3
Extended Address
Explicit Congestion Notification (FR)
Exchange Carriers Standards Association
End Delimiter (IEEE 802)
Electronic Data Interchange (or document interchange)
Exterior Gateway Protocol
Exterior Gateway Routing Protocol
Electronics Industries Association
Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol
Excess Information Rate
Enterprise Management Architecture (DEC)
End Of Message
End Of Transmission
End System (OSI)
Extended SuperFrame
End System-to-Intermediate System protocol (OSI)
End of Transmission Block
European Telecommunications Standards Institute
End of Text
Flag
Frame Control field (FDDI)
Frame Check Sequence (FR)
Fiber Distributed Data Interface (ANSI)
Fiber Distributed Data Interface Version II
Frequency Division Multiplexing
Far End Block Error
Forward Error Correction
Forward Explicit Congestion Notification (FR)
Far End Reporting Failure
First In, First Out
Frequency Modulation
FOIRL
fps
FR
FRAD
FS
FT1
FTP
Gbit
Gbps
GFC
GFID
GFI
GGP
GOS
GOSIP
GUI
HCS
HDTV
HDLC
HEC
HOB
HSRP
HSSI
HTML
HTTP
Hz
ICF
ICIP
ICMP
IDRP
IEC
IEEE
IETF
IGP
IGP
IGRP
ILMI
IMPDU
IMSSI
I-MAC
intraLATA
ISN
IP
IPCP
IPX
IS
ISDN
ISDU
IS-IS
Fiber-Optic InterRepeater Link (Ethernet 802.3)
Frames per second
Frame Relay
Frame Relay Assembler/Disassembler, or Access Device
Frame Status field (FDDI)
Fractional T1
File Transfer Protocol
Gigabits (billions of bits)
Gigabits per second (109 bps)
Generic Flow Control
General Format Identifier
General Format Identifier (X.25)
Gateway-Gateway Protocol (DoD)
Grade of Service
Government Open System Interconnection Profile
Graphical User Interface
Header Check Sequence (DQDB)
High Definition TeleVision
High-Level Data Link Control (ISO)
Header Error Control
Head of Bus (DQDB) A or B
Hot Standby Routing Protocol
High-Speed Serial Interface
Hypertext Markup Language
Hypertext Trasfer Protocol
Hertz or cycles per second
Isochronous Convergence Function (DQDB)
Inter-Carrier Interface Protocol (SMDS)
Internet Control Message Protocol
InterDomain Routing Protocol
InterExchange Carrier
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Internet Engineering Task Force
Interior Gateway Protocol
Interior Gateway Routing Protocol
Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (CiscoŠ )
Interim Local Management Interface
Initial MAC Protocol Data Unit (DQDB)
Inter-MAN Switching System Interface (DQDB)
Isochronous Media Access Control (FDDI)
intraLocal Access Transport Area
Initial Sequence Number (DoD)
Internet Protocol (DoD)
Internet Protocol Control Protocol (DoD)
Internetwork Packet Exchange protocol (Novell)
Intermediate System (OSI)
Integrated Services Digital Network
Isochronous Service Data Unit (DQDB)
Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System (OSI)
ISO
ISP
ISSI
ISU
IT
ITU
ITU-T
IVR
IXC
kbit
kbps
km
LAN
LANE
LAP-B
LAP-D
LAP-F
LAT
LATA
LB
LCD
LCGN
LCP
LEC
LECS
LES
LLC
LME
LMI
LSB
LT
LTE
LU
m
MAC
MAN
Mbit
Mbps
MCF
MCP
MHz
MIB
MIC
MID
MIPS
MMF
MOP
MOSPF
MPEG
International Standards Organization
Internet Service Protocol
Inter-Switching System Interface (SMDS)
Isochronous Service User (SMDS)
Integrated Technology
International Telecommunications Union
ITU - Telecommunications standardization sector
Integrated Voice Recognition
IntereXchange Carrier
kilobit (thousands of bits)
kilobits per second (103 bps)
kilometers (103 meters)
Local Area Network
LAN Emulation
Link Access Procedure - Balanced (X.25)
Link Access Procedure - D Channel (ISDN/Frame Relay)
Link Access Procedure - Frame Mode
Local Area Transport protocol (DEC)
Local Access Transport Area
Letter Ballot
Liquid Crystal Display
Logical Channel Group Number
Link Control Protocol
Local Exchange Carrier
LAN Emulation Configuration Server
LAN Emulation Server
Logical Link Control (IEEE 802.X)
Layer Management Entity (DQDB)
Local Management Interface (FR)
Least Significant Bit
Line Termination
Line Terminating Equipment (SONET)
Logical Unit (SNA)
meter
Media Access Control (IEEE 802.X)
Metropolitan Area Network (DQDB, FDDI)
Megabits (millions of bits)
Megabits per second (106 bps)
MAC Convergence Function (DQDB)
MAC Convergence Protocol (DQDB)
Megahertz
Management Information Base (SNMP)
Media Interface Connector (FDDI)
Message IDentifier (DQDB), Multiplexing IDentifier (ATM)
Millions of Instructions Per Second
Multimode Fiber
Maintenance and Operation Protocol (DEC)
Multicast Open Shortest Path First
Motion Picture Encoding Group
MPOA
ms
ms
MSAP
MSB
MSDU
MSS
MTU
MUX
NANP
NBP
NCP
NE
NetBIOS
NFS
nm
NIC
NMP
NMS
NNI
NNI
NOS
NP
NPA
NRM
NRZ
NRZI
ns
NSAP
NTx
OAM
OC-N
OCR
OH
OID
OOF
ONA
OS
OSI
OSI CLNS
OSIRM
OSPF
OTC
PA
PABX
PAD
PAF
PBX
PCN
MultiprotocolOver ATM
millisecond (one-thousandth of a second, 10-3 seconds)
microsecond (10-6 second)
MAC Service Access Point (SMDS)
Most Significant Bit
MAC Service Data Unit (SMDS)
MAN Switching System (SMDS)
Maximum Transmission Unit
Multiplexer
North American Numbering Plan
Name Binding Protocol
Network Control Protocol or Point (SNA)
Network Element
Network Basic Input/Output System protocol
Network File Server
nanometer (10-9 meter)
Network Interface Card
Network Management Process (SMDS)
Network Management System or Station
Network-Node Interface (SONET)
Network-to-Network Interface (FR)
Network Operating System
Network Performance
Numbering Plan Area
Normalized Response Mode (ISO)
Non-return to zero
Non-return to zero invert ones
nanosecond (10-9 second)
Network Service Access Point
Network Termination x (where X = 1, 2, ...)
Operations and Maintenance
Optical Carrier Level N (SONET)
Optical Character Recognition
Overhead
Object Identifier (SNMP)
Out of Frame
Open Network Architecture
Operating System
Open Systems Interconnection
Connectionless Network System (OSI)
OSI Reference Model
Open Shortest Path First
Operating Telephone Company
Prearbitrated segment or slot (DQDB)
Private Automatic Branch Exchange
Packet Assembler/Disassembler (X.25)
Prearbitrated Function (DQDB)
Private Branch Exchange
Personal Communications Network
PCR
PCS
PDC
PDH
PDN
PDS
PDU
Ph-SAP
PHY
PID
PIM
Ping
PIR
PL
PLCP
PM
PMD
POH
POI
PON
PoP
POTS
PPP
Pps
PRI
PSPDN
PT
PTE
PTT
PU
PVC
QA
QAF
QoS
QPSX
RBOC
RCP
RDI
REJ
RFC
RIP
RISC
RJE
RMT
RNR
RQ
RR
RSVP
RTMP
Peak Cell Rate
Personal Communications Services
Packet Data Channel (FDDI)
Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy
Public Data Network
Packet Driver Specification for public domain
Protocol Data Unit (IEEE)
Physical layer SAP (DQDB)
Physical layer standard (FDDI)
Protocol IDentification
Protocol Independent Multicast
Packet Internet Groper
Protocol Independent Routing
PAD Length (DQDB)
Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (DQDB)
Performance Monitoring
Physical Layer Medium Dependent standard (FDDI)
Path Overhead (SONET)
Path Overhead Identifier (DQDB)
Passive Optical Network
Point of Presence
Plain Old Telephone Service
Point-to-Point Protocol (Internet)
Packets per second
Primary Rate Interface (ISDN)
Packet-Switched Public Data Network
Payload Type
Path-Terminating Equipment (PTE)
Postal, Telegraph & Telephone Ministry/Administration
Physical Unit (SNA)
Permanent Virtual Circuit or Channel (FR, X.25)
Queued Arbitrated (DQDB) segment, slot, access function
Queued Arbitrated Function (DQDB)
Quality of Service
Queued Packet and Synchronous Exchange
Regional Bell Operating Company
Remote Console Protocol (DEC)
Remote Defect Indication (ATM)
Reject frame
Request for Comments
Routing Information Protocol
Reduced Instruction Set Computer
Remote Job Entry
Ring Management (FDDI)
Receive Not Ready
Request Counter (DQDB)
Receive Ready frame
Resource Reservation Protocol
Routing and Management Protocol (Apple)
RTP
s
SA
SAP
SAPI
SAR
SAS
SD
SDH
SDLC
SDU
SES
SF
SIG
SIP
SIR
SMDS
SMF
SMT
SMTP
SN
SNA
SNAP
SNI
SNMP
SOH
SONET
SPE
SPF
SPM
SQL
SREJ
SRT
SS
SSAP
SSCOP
SSCS
STE
STM
STM-n
STP
STP
STS-n
STS-Nc
SVC
SYN
t
TA
TAPI
Routing Update Protocol
second
Source Address field
Service Access Point (ISO)
Service Access Point Identifier (ISO)
Segmentation and Re-assembly (ATM)
Single-Attach Station connection (FDDI)
Start Delimiter
Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (ITU-T)
Synchronous Data Link Control protocol (IBM)
Service Data Unit (DQDB)
Severely Errored Seconds
SuperFrame
SMDS Interest Group
SMDS Interface Protocol (SMDS)
Sustained Information Rate (SMDS)
Switched Multimegabit Data Service
Single-Mode Fiber
System Management protocol (FDDI)
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
Sequence Number
System Network Architecture (IBM)
SubNetwork Access Protocol (SMDS)
Subscriber Network Interface (SMDS)
Simple Network Management Protocol (DoD)
Section Overhead
Synchronous Optical Network (ANSI)
Synchronous Payload Envelope (SONET)
Shortest Path First protocol
FDDI-to-SONET Physical Layer Mapping standard
Structured Query Language
Select Reject frame
Source Route Transparent protocol
Switching System (SMDS)
Source Service Access Point (LLC)
Service-Specific Connection Oriented Protocol (ATM)
Service-Specific Convergence Sublayer (ATM)
Section Terminating Equipment (SONET)
Synchronous Transfer Mode or Station Management (SDH)
Synchronous Transport Module level n (SDH)
Shielded Twisted Pair
Spanning Tree Protocol (IEEE 802.1d)
Synchronous Transport Signal Level n (SONET)
Concatenated Synchronous Transport Signal Level N
Switched Virtual Circuit or Signaling Virtual Channel
Synchronous Idle
time
Terminal Adapter
Telephony Application Program Interface
TC
TCP
TCP/IP
TDM
TDMA
TE
TP
TP4
TR
TSAPI
UBR
UDP
UNI
UNMA
UTP
VBR
VC
VCC
VCI
VC-n
VLSI
VP
VPI
VPN
VT
VTx
VTx-Nc
WAN
XNS
ZIP
Transmission Convergence sub-layer of PHY layer (ATM)
Transmission Control Protocol (DoD)
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (DoD)
Time Division Multiplexing
Time Division Multiple Access
Terminal Equipment
Transport Protocol (CCITT)
Transport Protocol Class 4 (ISO)
Technical Report
Telephony Services Application Programmers Interface
Unspecified Bit Rate
User Datagram Protocol (DoD)
User-to-Network Interface
Unified Network Management Architecture (AT&T)
Unshielded Twisted Pair
Variable Bit Rate
Virtual Channel or Virtual Call
Virtual Channel Connection
Virtual Channel or Circuit Identifier (DQDB)
Virtual Container-n (SDH)
Very Large Scale Integration
Virtual Path (ATM)
Virtual Path Identifier (ATM)
Virtual Private Network
Virtual Tributary (SONET)
VT of size x (currently x = 1.5, 2, 3, 6)
Concatenated Virtual Tributary (SONET)
Wide Area Network
Xerox Network Systems protocol (XEROX)
Routing and Management protocol (Apple)
Reprinted: This information is not intended for use without professional advice.
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