User's Manual

AppendixD:GlossaryofTerms
3Com®AirProtectPlannerUserGuide
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AppendixD:GlossaryofTerms
ThissectionprovidesaquickreferencetowirelessnetworkingandPlannerrelatedtermsandabbreviationsusedinthisguide.
Table 3 Glossary of Terms
Term Definition Description
802.11 802 Series LANs
The IEEE 802.11 is a standard for WLANs. This
standard is continuously developed to provide
better and higher transmission rates.
AP Access Point
An AP is an interface between wireless and wired
networks. It connects wireless Clients with an
Ethernet to extend their range.
BoM Bill of Material
Bill of Material is a detailed report that contains
network inventory along with the placement of
APs and Sensors throughout the site. It displays a
list of APs and Sensors on each layout, their
configuration, the Vendor/Model Number, the
protocol used and its distance from the North-
West corner.
Channel Interference
Channels are important to understand because
they affect the overall capacity of the Wireless
LAN. A channel represents a narrow band of radio
frequency. A radio frequency modulates within a
band of frequencies; as a result of which there is a
limited amount of bandwidth within any given
range to carry data. It is important that the
frequencies do not overlap or else the throughput
would be significantly lowered as the network
sorts and reassembles the data packets sent over
the air.
The 802.11b specification operates at radio
frequencies in the 2.4 to 2.497 GHz range and
supports overlapping channels of 22 MHz each.
The frequency ranges and channels vary based on
the regulatory standards adopted by a country.
For instance, in the US, the FCC standard allows
up to 11 channels whereas in Europe the ETSI
standard allows up to 13 channels.
When there are more than one source
transmitting on a radio frequency simultaneously,
the receiver sees more than its partner source.
The receiver will have difficulties distinguishing
one from the other and the data will be lost. This
is interference. Channels you chose for the Clients
and APs are susceptible to interference. Therefore,
it is important to ensure you are on the correct
frequency by selecting appropriate channels for
the APs.
Layout Model
The model of the
Layout with all the
object placements
defined
After you import the layout image into Planner,
the Layout Designer helps designing the Layout
Model. The Layout Model is a ready layout of the
entire layout for which you are performing WLAN
planning. The Layout Model contains all the
objects, locations of walls, windows, and doors
with the details of the materials used in it.
Layout Image
A .jpg, .gif image file of
the Layout
In the context of Planner, a Layout Image serves
as the primary input to the entire planning
process.
RF Calculation Cell Size
Granularity of the RF
computations of the
WLAN signal strength
When you create a new plan, Planner determines
the granularity of the RF computations of the
WLAN signal strength distribution throughout the
plan. It divides the plan into small units and then
calculates the RF characteristics for each unit. The