User's Manual

Glossary
322 Installation and User Guide: NMS Pro
client utility
This application executes on a station and provides management and diagnostics functionality for
the 802.11 network interfaces.
Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP)
A system of assigning Quality of Service “Class of Service” tags.
Domain Name Service (DNS)
A standard methodology for converting alphanumeric Internet domain names to IP addresses.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
A communications protocol enabling IP address assignments to be managed both dynamically and
centrally. With DHCP enabled on a node (a system, device, network card, or access point), when it
boots or is connected to a network, an address is automatically assigned. Each assigned address is
considered to be “leased” to a specific node; when the lease expires, a new IP can be requested
and/or automatically reassigned. Without DHCP, IP addresses would need to be entered manually
for each and every device on the network.
dynamic IP address
A TCP/IP network address assigned temporarily (or dynamically) by a central server, also known
as a DHCP server. A node set to accept dynamic IPs is said to be a “DHCP client.”
Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)
Standard that specifies the method of communication between an authentication server and the
client, or supplicant, requesting access to the network. EAP supports a variety of authentication
methods.
Extensible Authentication Protocol Over LAN (EAPOL)
Protocol used for 802.1x authentication.
EAP-TLS
EAP using Transport Layer Security. EAP-based authentication method based on X.509
certificates, which provides mutual, secure authentication. Certificates must be maintained in the
authentication server and supplicant.
EAP-PEAP
Protected EAP-based authentication method based on X.509 certificates. Uses a two-phase
approach in which the server is first authenticated to the supplicant. This establishes a secure
channel over which the supplicant can be authenticated to the server.
Extended Service Set (ESS)
A set of multiple connected BSSs. From the perspective of network clients, the ESS functions as
one wireless network; clients are able to roam between the BSSs within the ESS.
ESSID
Name or identifier of the ESS used in network configuration.
hostname
The unique, fully qualified name assigned to a network computer, providing an alternative to the
IP address as a way to identify the computer for networking purposes.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
Protocol governing the transfer of data on the World Wide Web between servers and browser (and
browser enabled software applications).