User manual

IEEE 802.X
A set of specifications for Local Area Networks (LAN) from The Institute of Electrical
and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). Most wired networks conform to 802.3, the
specification for CSMA/CD based Ethernet networks. The 802.11 committee
completed a standard for 1 and 2 Mbps wireless LANs in 1997 that has a single
MAC layer for the following physical-layer technologies: Frequency Hopping Spread
Spectrum, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum, and Infrared. IEEE 802.11 b, an 11
Mbps version of the standard, was finalized at the end of 1999.
Independent Basic Service Set Network (IBSS Network)
An 802.11-based wireless network that has no backbone infrastructure and
consists of at least two wireless stations. This type of network is often referred to
as an ad-hoc network because it can be constructed quickly without much planning.
Industrial, Scientific, and Medicine bands (ISM bands)
Radio frequency bands that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
authorized for wireless LANs. The ISM bands are located at 902 MHz, 2.400 GHz,
and 5.7 GHz.
Infrastructure network
A wireless network centered about an access point. In this environment, the access
point not only provides communication with the wired network but also mediates
wireless network traffic in the immediate neighborhood.
Logical Link Control (LLC) layer
The highest layer of the IEEE 802 reference model, providing similar functions of a
traditional data link control protocol.
Medium Access Control (MAC) layer
Provides medium access services for IEEE 802 LANs.
Narrowband system
A wireless system that uses dedicated frequencies assigned by the FCC licenses.
The advantage of narrowband system is that if interference occurs, the FCC will
intervene and issue an order for the interfering source to cease operations.
Open system authentication
The IEEE 802.11 default authentication method, which is a very simple, two-step
process. First the station wanting to authenticate with another station sends an
authentication management frame containing the sending station’s identity. The
receiving station then sends back a frame alerting whether it recognizes the
identity of the authenticating station.
Open System Interconnection (OSI)
An ISO standard specifying an open system capable of enabling the
communications between diverse systems. It has the following seven layers of
distinction: physical, data link, network, transport, session, and application. These
layers provide the functions necessary to allow standardized communications
between two application processes.
Peer-to-peer network
A network where there are communications between a groups of equal devices. A
peer-to-peer LAN does not depend on a dedicated server, but allows any node to
be installed as a non-dedicated server and share its files and peripherals across the
network.
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