@@ -161,15 +161,21 @@ Products in scope include products whose core purpose is to serve as a virtual o
Physical network interfaces are products with digital elements that directly connect a device to a network via an application programming interface (API) provided by device drivers, typically operating at the data link layer, and that feature hardware adapters to transmission media with corresponding firmware, typically operating at the physical and data link layer.
Virtual network interfaces are products with digital elements that directly or indirectly connect a device to a network via an API that emulates that of device drivers of physical network interfaces, typically operating at the data link layer.
Virtual network interfaces are products with digital elements that directly or indirectly connect a device to a network via an API that emulates that of device drivers or physical network interfaces, typically operating at the data link layer.
Physical network interfaces are connected to a host system by a communications bus, such as PCIe or USB. Virtual network interfaces are software running on the host system, and communicate via the device driver interface.
This category includes but is not limited to wired and wireless network interface cards, controllers and adapters, such as for Wi-Fi, Ethernet, IrDA, USB, Bluetooth, NearLink, Zigbee, Fieldbus, or Infiniband.
The term "modem" is used for two different kinds of products: a device with two or more network interfaces that routes network data between two different networks, such as a cable modem, and a single network interface that connects a physical adapter to a system bus, as for example a 5G modem interface or Power Line Communication devices. Modems of the second type are included in this standard.
The term "modem" is used for two different kinds of products:
This category includes purely virtual standalone products, such as virtual network interface cards, container network interfaces, VPN interfaces, and loopback interfaces.
1. "Modem interface": a single network interface that connects a physical transmission adapter to a system bus, as for example a 5G modem interface or Power Line Communication device
1. "Standalone modem": A device with two or more network interfaces that routes network data between two different networks, relaying data from one type of physical transmission media to another, such as a cable modem
"Modem interfaces" are included in this standard. "Standalone modems" are excluded from this standard.
This category includes purely virtual standalone products, such as virtual network interfaces, container network interfaces, VPN interfaces, and loopback interfaces.
This category includes products whose core function is a network interface and provides the feature of remote management interface for the network interface or the host system. FIXME do we have time to do this?
@@ -250,17 +256,25 @@ For the purposes of the present document, the following terms apply:
**Host:** Any equipment to which the network interface part provides additional functionality, mainly network connectivity, and to which connection is necessary for the network interface to operate
**Network Interface (NI) :** A physical device or software component that provides a host with a connection to a network
**Modem interface:** a single physical network interface that converts a digital transmission from the host into an analog transmission for the physical transmission adapter
**Network Interface :** A virtual or physical network interface
**Physical transmission medium :** The physical instantiation of a network, which can be wired or wireless
**Physical transmission media adapter :** A physical adapter on a network interface that transmits and receives data on the medium
**Physical (network) interface:** A network interface that represents an actual hardware network device.
**Physical network interface:** A hardware device that directly connects to a network using a hardware adapter to the transmission media and is connected to a host system by a communications bus
**Standalone modem:** A device with two or more network interfaces that routes network data between two different networks, relaying data from one type of physical transmission media to another
**System bus:** A data transmission bus connecting one or more physical network interfaces to a host
**Virtual Network Interface (VNI):** A software-based network interface that simulates the functionality of a physical network adapter.
**Virtual Network Interface (VNI):** A software-based network interface that simulates the functionality of a physical network interace
**Wired network interface:** A physical network interface which transmits data through a fixed, specific medium such as Ethernet cable, fiber optic cable, coaxial cable or power lines
**Wireless network interface:** A physical network interface which transmits data in a manner that does not require a specific medium, such as radiofrequency waves or visible light communication through the air
## 3.2 Abbreviations
@@ -332,7 +346,7 @@ A physical network interface connects via a communications bus to the host. The
> FIXME mermaid chart temporarily removed to generate Word doc
A wired network interface transmits data via a wired medium such as Ethernet cable, fiber optic cable, coaxial cable or power lines. A wireless network interface uses radiofrequency transmissions to transmit data over the air. A virtual network interface transmits data through software within the memory of a host system, sometimes across a software-defined network fabric.
A wired network interface transmits data via a specific physical medium such as Ethernet cable, fiber optic cable, coaxial cable or power lines. A wireless network interface transmits data in a manner that does not require a specific medium, such as radiofrequency waves or visible light communication through the air. A virtual network interface transmits data through software within the memory of a host system, sometimes across a software-defined network fabric.
Wireless network interfaces often have an independent real-time operating system on the network interface itself. Wireless medium access often requires real-time response to manage the radio frequency transmissions properly. The network interface must also prevent improper settings of radio frequency transmission parameters, which is often implemented by having the internal firmware set the parameters, rather than exposing them to the host. The complexity of this firmware may increase the risk of a wireless interface.
