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802.11a An IEEE wireless networking standard that species a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps in the operating
frequency range of 5GHz. 802.11a has a greater bandwidth than 802.11b, but a shorter range.
802.11b An IEEE wireless networking standard that species a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps in the operating
frequency range of 2.4GHz.
802.11g An IEEE wireless networking standard that species a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps, in the operating
frequency range of 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with 802.11b devices.
802.11n An IEEE wireless networking standard that species a maximum data transfer rate of 300Mbps, in the operating
frequency range of 2.4GHz or 5GHz, and backward compatibility with 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g devices.
Access Point A device that allows wireless-equipped computers and other devices to communicate with each other and with
a wired network.
Adapter A device that adds network functionality to your PC.
Ad-hoc A group of wireless devices communicating directly with each other (peer-to-peer) without the use of an access point.
ACL (Access Control List) Used within network security systems to allow selective use of services. In the case of NAS usage, an
Access Control List is used to control access to, and denial of, les or volumes. A list associated with an AFS directory species the
actions a user or group is permitted to perform on a directory and its les.
ADSL Asymmetric digital subscriber line. A avor of DSL where data ow is greater in one direction than the other.
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) A method that uses up to 256-bit key encryption to secure data, or symmetric 128-bit
block data encryption.
Backbone The part of a network that connects most of the systems and networks together, and handles the most data.
Bandwidth The transmission capacity of a given device or network.
Beacon Interval Data transmitted on your wireless network that keeps the network synchronized.
Bridge A device that connects two dierent kinds of local networks, such as a wireless network to a wired Ethernet network.
Broadband An always-on, fast Internet connection.
Browser An application program that provides a way to look at and interact with all the information on the World Wide Web.
Byte A unit of data that is usually eight bits long.
CIFS (Common Internet File System) A protocol allowing remote le access using dierent computers with dierent operating
systems. With CIFS, users running Microsoft Windows, Macintosh OS, Linux or other operating systems can access, update, revise
and share les without having to install new software. CIFS uses the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol running over TCP/IP. CIFS
will allow applications to open and share les across a network.
Client A computer that receives resources such as les, devices, applications, or processing power from a server.
CSMA/CA(Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance) A method of data transfer that is used to prevent data collisions.
DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System) A service that allows a static domain name to be assigned to a dynamic IP address.
(See DNS).
Default Gateway A device that forwards Internet trac from your local area network.
Glossary of Terms
DHCP (Dynamic Host Conguration Protocol) A protocol that lets one device on a local network, known as a DHCP server,
assign temporary IP addresses to the other network devices, typically computers.
DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) Removes the router’s rewall protection from one PC, allowing it to be “seen” from the Internet.
DNS (Domain Name Server) A server that translate domain names (computer host names and email address) to IP address,
and vice-versa
DoS (Denial of Service) A network security term which denes a type of attack designed to prevent legitimate users from access a
resource by overwhelming that resource with useless/malicious trac.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) An always-on broadband connection over traditional phone lines.
DSSS (Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum) Frequency transmission with a redundant bit pattern resulting in a lower probability
of information being lost in transit.
DTIM (Delivery Trac Indication Message) A message included in data packets that can increase wireless eciency.
Dynamic IP Address A temporary IP address assigned by a DHCP server.
EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) A general authentication protocol used to control network access. Many specic
authentication methods work within this framework.
EAP-PEAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol-Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol) A mutual authentication
method that uses a combination of digital certicates and another system, such as passwords.
EAP-TLS (Extensible Authentication Protocol-Transport Layer Security) A mutual authentication method that uses digital
certicates.
Encryption The encoding of data transmitted over a network. Encrypted data is only readable to its intended receiver.
Enterprise In product terms, refers to larger businesses, primarily those with more than 250 employees.
Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) An IEEE standard network protocol that species how data is placed on and retrieved from a common
transmission medium. Supports data transfer rates of up to 10 Mbps.
Fast Ethernet (IEEE 802.3u) An IEEE standard that supports data transfer rates of up to 100 Mbps.
Firewall Any set of security schemes that prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to a computer network or that monitor
transfers of information to and from the network.
Firmware The embedded software that runs a networking device.
Fragmentation Breaking a packet into smaller units when transmitting over a network medium that cannot support the original
size of the packet.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) An application for sending les between computers over a TCP/IP network and the Internet.
Full Duplex The ability of a networking device to receive and transmit data simultaneously.
Gateway A device that interconnects networks with dierent, incompatible communications protocols.
Gigabit Ethernet (IEEE802.3z and IEEE 802.3ab) An IEEE networking standard that supports data transfer rates of 1gigabit per
second (1000 Mbps).
Half Duplex Data transmission that can occur in two directions over a single line, but only one direction at a time.
Hardware The physical aspect of computers, telecommunications, and other information technology devices.
HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol) The communications protocol used to connect to servers on the World Wide Web.
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