User's Manual

60 Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Adapter User’s Guide
IP address
Acronym for “Internet Protocol” address. An IP address
is an assigned number used to identify a computer that
is connected to a network or the Internet through the
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/
IP). An IP address consists of four numbers (each of
which can be no greater than 255) separated by periods,
such as 192.168.2.1.
ISP
Acronym for “Internet service provider.” A company that
provides access to the Internet.
Kbps
Abbreviation of “kilobits per second.” A measure of data
transfer speed through a modem or on a network.
LAN
Acronym for “local area network.” A group of computers
and other devices dispersed over a relatively limited
area (for example, a building) and connected by a
communications link that enables any device to interact
with any other on the network.
MAC address
Acronym for “media access control” address. Each
network adapter and other network hardware device
is manufactured with its own unique MAC address.
Networking standards and technologies use MAC
addresses to pass information between network
devices.
Mbps
Abbreviation of “megabits per second.” A measure of
data transfer speed. Do not confuse with megabytes per
second, or MBps.
NAT
Acronym for “network address translation.” NAT is a
base station feature and software feature that allows
all of the computers on a network to access the Internet
through one Internet Protocol (IP) address, and helps
ensure the computers’ security by hiding their individual
IP addresses.
network
A group of computers and associated devices that are
connected by communications paths. Networks can
interconnect with other networks and contain sub-
networks. A network can be permanent or temporary,
small or large, and connect with cables and/or
wirelessly.
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