User Manual

wireless networking
30
Glossary of Wireless Networking Terms
31
wireless networking
Glossary of Wireless Networking Terms
Access Point: An internetworking device that seamlessly connects wired
and wireless networks.
Ad-Hoc: A group of computers, each with LAN adapters, connected as an
independent wireless LAN.
Backbone: The core infrastructure of a network. The portion of the
network that transports information from one central location to
another, where it is unloaded onto a local system.
Base Station: In mobile telecommunications, a base station is the central
radio transmitter/receiver that maintains communications with the mobile
radio/telephone sets within its range. In cellular and personal communications
applications, each cell or micro-cell has its own base station; each base
station in turn is interconnected with other cells or bases.
BSS: BSS stands for Basic Service Set. It is comprised of an access point
and all the LAN PCs that are associated with it.
ESS: ESS (ESS-ID, SSID) stands for Extended Service Set. More than one
BSS is configured to become an Extended Service Set. LAN mobile users
can roam between different BSSes in an ESS (ESS-ID, SSID).
Ethernet: A popular local area data communications network, which
accepts transmission from computers and terminals. Ethernet operates
on a 10 or 100Mbps base band transmission rate, using an unshielded,
twisted-pair cable.
Infrastructure: An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an
Infrastructure configuration.
Notebook with Wireless
Notebook Network Card
PC with Wireless Desktop
PCI Network Adapter
Notebook with Wireless
Notebook Network Card
Ad-Hoc Mode
Roaming: A wireless LAN mobile user moves around an ESS and maintains
a continuous connection to the Infrastructure network.
RTS Threshold: Transmitters contending for the medium may not be
aware of each other. The RTS/CTS mechanism can solve this “hidden
node problem”. If the packet size is smaller than the preset RTS
Threshold size, the RTS/CTS mechanism will NOT be enabled.
WEP: Wired Equivalent Privacy is based on the use of 64-bit or 128-bit
keys and the popular RC4 encryption algorithm. Wireless devices without
a valid WEP key will be excluded from network traffic.
ESS
BSS2
BSS1
Desktop PC
Desktop PC
Switch
Wireless
Access Point
Infrastructure Mode,
BSS, and ESS
Wireless
Access Point