Concentrator

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What Does Concentrator Mean?

A concentrator aggregates and forwards data packets within a
system. A concentrator may also administrate various dial-up internet calls and
function as a network router. In general, the term “concentrator” is used for
either of these essential tasks.

Techopedia Explains Concentrator

Some IT professionals may use the term “network concentrator” to talk about a system that takes in buffered packets and puts them into a single queue. The concentrator may take packets from FIFO buffers and put them in a position for linear handling.

IT professionals may talk about a network concentrator as a “forwarder” or more generally point out this function within a network system that handles multiple streams or threads and combines them into a single point of service. Concentrators may also be part of troubleshooting efforts, where system administrators may check to see that the concentrator is taking in and outputting signals correctly.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.

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