User's Manual

Packet - A unit of data routed between an origin and a destination in a network.
Passphrase - Used much like a password, a passphrase simplifies the WEP
encryption process by automatically generating the WEP encryption keys for
Linksys products.
PC Card - A credit-card sized removable module that contains memory, I/O, or
a hard disk.
PCMCIA - The PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International
Association) is an industry group organized in 1989 to promote standards for a
credit card-size memory or I/O device that would fit into a personal computer,
usually a notebook or laptop computer.
Plug-and-Play - The ability of a computer system to configure expansion boards
and other devices automatically without requiring the user to turn off the system
during installation.
Roaming - The ability to use a wireless device and be able to move from one
access point's range to another without losing the connection.
RTS (Request To Send) - An RS-232 signal sent from the transmitting station to
the receiving station requesting permission to transmit.
Server - Any computer whose function in a network is to provide user access to
files, printing, communications, and other services.
Software - Instructions for the computer. A series of instructions that performs a
particular task is called a "program." The two major categories of software are
"system software" and "application software." System software is made up of
control programs such as the operating system and database management system
(DBMS). Application software is any program that processes data for the user.
A common misconception is that software is data. It is not. Software tells the
hardware how to process the data.
Spread Spectrum - Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency
technique developed by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical
communications systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reli-
ability, integrity, and security. In other words, more bandwidth is consumed than
in the case of narrowband transmission, but the trade off produces a signal that
is, in effect, louder and thus easier to detect, provided that the receiver knows the
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Network PC Card
LAN - A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated
devices that share a common communications line and typically share the
resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (for
example, within an office building).
Mbps (MegaBits Per Second) - One million bits per second; unit of measure-
ment for data transmission.
NetBEUI (NetBIOS Extended User Interface) - The transport layer for NetBIOS.
NetBIOS and NetBEUI were originally part of a single protocol suite that was
later separated. NetBIOS sessions can be transported over NetBEUI, TCP/IP and
SPX/IPX protocols.
NetBIOS - The native networking protocol in DOS and Windows networks.
Although originally combined with its transport layer protocol (NetBEUI),
NetBIOS today provides a programming interface for applications at the session
layer (layer 5). NetBIOS can ride over NetBEUI, its native transport, which is not
routable, or over TCP/IP and IPX/SPX, which are routable protocols.
NetBIOS computers are identified by a unique 15-character name, and Windows
machines (NetBIOS machines) periodically broadcast their names over the net-
work so that Network Neighborhood can catalog them. For TCP/IP networks,
NetBIOS names are turned into IP addresses via manual configuration in an
LMHOSTS file or a WINS server.
There are two NetBIOS modes. The Datagram mode is the fastest mode, but does
not guarantee delivery. It uses a self-contained packet with send and receive
name, usually limited to 512 bytes. If the recipient device is not listening for mes-
sages, the datagram is lost. The Session mode establishes a connection until bro-
ken. It guarantees delivery of messages up to 64KB long.
Network - A system that transmits any combination of voice, video and/or data
between users.
Node - A network junction or connection point, typically a computer or work sta-
tion.
Notebook (PC) - A notebook computer is a battery-powered personal computer
generally smaller than a briefcase that can easily be transported and convenient-
ly used in temporary spaces such as on airplanes, in libraries, temporary offices,
and at meetings. A notebook computer, sometimes called a laptop computer, typ-
ically weighs less than five pounds and is three inches or less in thickness.
Instant Wireless
TM
Series
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