Access Point |
A networking device that seamlessly connects wired and wireless
networks together. |
Ad Hoc |
An Ad Hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers, each with wireless
adapters, connected as an independent wireless LAN. |
AES |
AES stands for Advanced Encryption System, which utilizes
a symmetric 128-bit clock data encryption. This is an option within
the WPA-PSK encryption method. |
Backbone |
This is the core infrastructure of a network, the portion
of the network that transports information from one central location
to another central location. The information is then off-loaded onto
a local system. |
Base Station |
In mobile telecommunication, a base station is the central radio
transmitter/receiver that maintains communication with the mobile
radio telephone sets within range. In cellular and personal communications
applications, each cell or microcell has its own base station; each
base station in turn is interconnected with other cells' bases. |
Bridge |
An internetworking function that incorporates the lowest two layers
of the OSI network protocol model. |
BSS |
An acronym for Basic Service Set, this is an Access Point that is
associated with several wireless stations. |
ESS |
An acronym for Extended Service Set, this is a roaming domain. More
than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set. |
Ethernet |
A popular local area data communications network that accepts transmission
from computers and terminals. An Ethernet operates on a 10-Mbps baseband
transmission over shielded coaxial cable or over shielded, twisted-pair
telephone wire. |
Infrastructure |
This is an integrated wireless and wired LAN configuration. In this
type of setup, a wireless network is created by wireless adapters
connecting to a wireless router or access point. The wireless router
or access point can be connected to a broadband modem or to an existing
LAN to supply Internet connectivity to the wireless network. |
Roaming |
A function that allows one to travel with a mobile end system (wireless
LAN mobile station, for example) through the territory of a domain
(an ESS, for example) while continuously connecting to the infrastructure. |
SSID |
SSID stands for Service Set Identifier. This is the network name
that is used to identify a specific wireless network. |
PSK |
PSK stands for Pre Shared Key. This is an element of the WPA encryption
standard. |
TKIP |
TKIP stands for Temporal Key Integrity Protocol. TKIP utilizes a
stronger encryption method and incorporates Message Integrity Code
(MIC) to provide protection against hackers. This is an option within
the WPA-PSK encryption method. |
WEP |
WEP stands for Wired Equivaent Privacy. This is an encryption standard
that provides a level of security and privacy that is comparable to
what is usually expected of a wired LAN. |
WPA |
WPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access. This is an encryption standard
that is an improvement on the WEP standard. WPA provides more sophisticated
encryption and user authentication. |