N

NAT

An acronym that means Network Address Translation. See IP proxy.

National Computing Security Center (NCSC)

The agency that developed the Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria (TCSEC) and the Trusted Network Interpretation Environmental Guideline (TNIEG).

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly known as the National Bureau of Standards or NBS) has been involved in developing and supporting standards for the U.S. government for over 100 years. NIST has become very involved in cryptography standards, systems, and technology in a variety of areas. NIST is primarily concerned with governmental systems, where it exercises a great deal of influence.

National Security Agency (NSA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for protecting U.S. communications and producing foreign intelligence information. It was established by presidential directive in 1952 as a separately organized agency within the Department of Defense (DoD).

NCP

See NetWare Core Protocol.

need-to-know

A method of information dissemination based on only passing along information to those who need to know it.

Network Address Translation (NAT)

See IP proxy.

Network Control Protocol (NCP)

A protocol used by PPP for encapsulating network traffic.

Network Interface layer

The lowest level of the TCP/IP protocol suite, this layer is responsible for placing and removing packets on the physical network.

Network Operations Center (NOC)

A single, centralized area for network monitoring and administrative control of systems.

network sniffer

A device that has access to the signaling on the network cable.

NCSC

See National Computing Security Center.

NDPS

See Novell Distributed Print Services.

NDS

See Novell Directory Services.

NetBIOS Extended User Interface (NetBEUI)

Protocol used to transport NetBIOS traffic in a LAN.

NetWare Core Protocol (NCP)

The upper-layer NetWare protocol that functions on top of IPX and provides NetWare resource access to workstations. See also Internet Packet eXchange.

NetWare Directory Services (NDS)

A directory management service used to manage all of the resources in a network. NDS provides a database of all of the network objects or resources.

NetWare Link State Protocol (NLSP)

Protocol that gathers routing information based on the link state routing method. Its precursor is the Routing Information Protocol (RIP). NLSP is a more efficient routing protocol than RIP. See also link state routing.

NetWare Loadable Module (NLM)

A component used to provide a NetWare server with additional services and functionality. Unneeded services can be unloaded, thereby conserving memory.

network

A group of devices connected by some means for the purpose of sharing information or resources.

Network Address Translation (NAT)

See IP proxy.

network attached storage

Storage, such as hard drives, attached to a network for the purpose of storing data for clients on the network. Network attached storage is commonly used for backing up data.

Network Basic Input Output System (NetBIOS)

The native protocol of Windows PCs, it provides a 15-character naming convention for resources on the network. NetBIOS is a broadcast-oriented network protocol, in that all traffic is available to all devices in a LAN. The protocol can be transported over NetBEUI, TCP/IP, or IPX/SPX.

Network-based IDS (N-IDS)

An approach to IDS that attaches the system to a point in the network where it can monitor and report on all network traffic.

Network File System (NFS)

A protocol that enables users to access files on remote computers as if the files were local.

network interface card (NIC)

A physical device that connects computers and other network equipment to the transmission medium.

Network layer

This third layer of the OSI model is responsible for logical addressing and translating logical names into physical addresses. This layer also controls the routing of data from source to destination as well as the building and dismantling of packets. See also Open Systems Interconnect.

NFS

See Network File System.

NIC

See network interface card.

nonessential services

Services not necessary to keep the server operating at the expected level in its expected role.

Noninterference model

A model intended to ensure that higher-level security functions do not interfere with lower-level functions.

non-repudiation

The ability (by whatever means) to verify that data was seen by an intended party. In other words, making sure that they received the data and cannot repudiate (dispute) that it arrived.

notification

The act of being alerted to an event.

notification policies

A set of rules about what triggers notification.

Novell Distributed Print Services (NDPS)

A printing system designed by Novell that uses NDS (known as eDirectory in NetWare 6) to install and manage printers. NDPS supports automatic network printer installation, automatic distribution of client printer drivers, and centralized printer management without the use of print queues.

Novell Support Connection

Novell's database of technical information documents, files, patches, fixes, NetWare Application Notes, Novell lab bulletins, Novell professional developer bulletins, answers to frequently asked questions, and more. The database is available from Novell and is updated quarterly.

NSA

See National Security Agency.