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media attachment unit
A device
used in Ethernet and IEEE 802.3 networks that provides the interface between
the attachment unit interface (AUI) port of a station and the common medium of
the Ethernet. The MAU, which can be built into a station or can be a separate
device, performs physical layer functions including the conversion of digital
data from the Ethernet interface, collision detection, and injection of bits
onto the network. Sometimes referred to as a media access unit, also
abbreviated MAU, or as a transceiver. In Token Ring, a MAU is
known as a multistation access unit and is usually abbreviated
MSAU to avoid confusion. See also AUI and MSAU.
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