I got the following definitions from Arınç, I am taking the liberty of opening this to the entire list, so we can refine these definitions together. I include some questions in-line to clarify the definitions.
>>> As a start, certain terms have cropped up multiple times in this >>> discussion. Could I ask for definitions for the following terms? >>> >>> Network: > > A network represents a group of computers communicating with each other. Are there other constraints for what comprises a network? For example, which of these would be considered to be "a network" in our DSA discussion? - Computers in the same subnet range - Computers on the same VLAN - Computers physically attached to a switch or bridge (perhaps on different subnets) - Are there other synonyms for "network"? >>> Network Interface: > > A network interface is the point of interconnection, implemented on the > software, between computers. - I had earlier written "... physical connections that convey bits/frames to other computers ... such as individual Ethernet switch ports, wireless radios, USB networking devices, VLANs, or virtual ethernets." - How much of this is correct? What should be added or removed? - What about bridges, tunnels, alias interfaces - include or exclude them? Why? - Must a network interface to be "implemented in software"? - Or do you mean that the network interface is the "software representation" of a physical connection? >>> Interface: > > Short for network interface. - Can we *always* treat this as a synonym for "network interface"? >>> Device: > > Another term for network interface, used a lot on Linux kernel development. - Can we *always* treat this as a synonym for "network interface"? >>> Netdev: > > A mailing list for all network-related Linux stuff. > https://docs.kernel.org/process/maintainer-netdev.html#what-is-netdev - Is "netdev" used commonly in DSA/OpenWrt as a formal term? - If not (and if we need to rename something in config files), could the term "netdev" provide a new word that isn't ambiguous? Thanks! _______________________________________________ openwrt-devel mailing list openwrt-devel@lists.openwrt.org https://lists.openwrt.org/mailman/listinfo/openwrt-devel