User's Manual

5. Glossary

1. IEEE 802.11 Standard

The IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN standards subcommittee, which is formulating a standard for

the industry.

2. Access Point

An internetworking device that seamlessly connects wired and wireless networks together.

3. Ad Hoc

An Ad Hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers, each with a WLAN adapter, connected as

an independent wireless LAN

Ad Hoc wireless LAN is applicable at a departmental scale for a branch or SOHO operation.

4. BSSID

A specific Ad Hoc LAN is called a Basic Service Set (BSS). Computers in a BSS must be

configured with the same BSSID.

5. DHCP

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol - a method in which IP addresses are assigned by

server dynamically to clients on the network. DHCP is used for Dynamic IP Addressing and

requires a dedicated DHCP server on the network.

6. Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum

This is the method the wireless cards use to transmit data over the frequency spectrum. The

other method is frequency hopping. Direct sequence spreads the data over one frequency

range (channel) while frequency hopping jumps from one narrow frequency band to another

many times per second.

7. ESSID

An Infrastructure configuration could also support roaming capability for mobile workers.

More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set (ESS). Users within an ESS

could roam freely between BSSs while served as a continuous connection to the network

wireless stations and Access Points within an ESS must be configured with the same ESSID

and the same radio channel.

8. Ethernet

Ethernet is a 10/100Mbps network that runs over dedicated home/office wiring. Users must be

wired to the network at all times to gain access.

9. Gateway

A gateway is a hardware and software device that connects two dissimilar systems, such as a

LAN and a mainframe. In Internet terminology, a gateway is another name for a router.

Generally a gateway is used as a funnel for all traffic to the Internet

10. IEEE

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Infrastructure. An integrated wireless and

wired LAN is called an Infrastructure configuration. Infrastructure is applicable to enterprise