G

gain

The ratio of the magnitude of the output signal with respect to that of the input signal.

In a linear equation (y=mx+b), the parameter (m) is used to drive the dependent variable (y) to a specified value when the independent variable (x) is at a maximum.

gain error

The deviation of the scale factor or the slope of the line from the ideal or nominal gain value. It is expressed in percent of the input or output value.

gateway address

A gateway connects individual physical networks into a system of networks. When a node needs to communicate with a node on another network, a gateway transfers the data between the two networks. The following figure shows gateway G connecting Network 1 with Network 2.

When host B with IP address 128.2.0.1 communicates with host C, it knows from C's IP address that C is on the same network. In an Ethernet environment, B can then resolve C's IP address to a MAC address (via ARP) and communicate with C directly.

When host B communicates with host A, it knows from A's IP address that A is on another network (the net IDs are different). In order to send data to A, B must have the IP address of the gateway connecting the two networks. In this example, the gateway's IP address on Network 2 is 128.2.0.3.

The gateway has two IP addresses (128.1.0.2 and 128.2.0.3). The first must be used by hosts on Network 1 and the second must be used by hosts on Network 2. To be usable, a host's gateway must be addressed using a net ID matching its own. This field is set to 0.0.0.0 by default.

gear ratio

The ratio that describes the amount of output position change caused by a given input position change in a geared transmission.

global scope

See controller scope.

grandmaster clock

Within a collection of clocks, one clock, the grandmaster clock, will serve as the primary source of time to which all other clocks are ultimately synchronized.