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!
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