MAC (media access control) address
A unique physical hardware address for each Ethernet network adapter that is composed of 12 hexadecimal digits.
MAC (media access control) filtering
Applying an access control list to a switch or access point so that only clients with approved MAC addresses can connect to it.
managed switch
Works as an unmanaged switch out-of-the-box but an administrator can connect to it over a management port, configure security settings, and then choose options for the switch's more advanced functionality.
MAPI (Message Application Programming Interface)
A Windows messaging interface used primarily by the email client software Outlook to communicate with an Exchange mail server.
MBR (Master Boot Record)
A sector on a hard disk storing information about partitions configured on the disk.
MDM (Mobile Device Management)
Software suites designed to manage use of smartphones and tablets within an enterprise.
measured service
A provider's ability to control and bill a customer's use of resources such as CPU, memory, disk, and network bandwidth through metering.
MEID (Mobile Equipment ID)
A number that uniquely identifies a mobile device on a CDMA network.
MIB (Management Information Base)
A database used by SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) in which agents maintain configuration and usage data and identifies what information the managed system offers.
microsegmentation
Each switch port is a separate collision domain. In effect, the switch establishes a point-to-point link called a virtual circuit between any two network nodes.
mirroring
Mirroring is a type of RAID (RAID 1) using two hard disks, providing the simplest way of protecting a single disk against failure.
mobile device synchronization
Copying data back and forth between a mobile device and another device such as another mobile device, tablet, laptop, PC, or cloud service to keep the information up-to-date on all of the devices.
mobile VPN
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) that can maintain the VPN link across multiple carrier networks, where the IP address assigned to the mobile device may change often.
modem (modulator/demodulator)
(modulator/demodulator) A network device that is used to interface a computer with the telephone network for data and fax communications, modulating digital data for transmission as an analog signal and demodulating incoming analog transmissions. Broadband modems are used to transmit signals over telephone (DSL) or cable TV networks.
Molex connector
A power connector that is used to supply power to Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA) drives, optical drives, and SCSI drives.
multimeter
An electrical meter capable of measuring voltage, resistance, and current. Voltage readings can be used to determine whether, for example, a power supply unit is functioning correctly. Resistance readings can be used to determine whether a fuse or network cable is functioning correctly.