34
Wi-Fi Terms and Dana Interface
Gateway
The part of the network that serves as an entrance to
another network. In a school or office, the gateway
is the computer that routes the traffic from a
workstation (i.e. Dana) to the Internet. In homes, the
gateway is the ISP that connects the user to the
internet.
HotSpot
A place where you can access Wi-Fi service. This can
be free or for a fee. HotSpots can be inside an airport
lounge, hotel, or any other public area. Corporations
and campuses are also implementing HotSpots to
provide wireless Internet access to their visitors.
Ping
A command to determine whether a specific IP
address is accessible. It works by sending a packet to
the specified address and waiting for a reply. Ping is
used primarily to troubleshoot Internet connections.
SSID (Service
Set Identifier
A unique identification number (up to 32 characters)
associated with a wireless network. A SSID is
basically a network name that identifies a wireless
network.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi (short for Wireless Fidelity) is a radio technol-
ogy that enables devices to connect to a network
(and to the Internet) without wires. A Wi-Fi network
operates like a wired network, but without the
restrictions imposed by wires. Wi-Fi allows users to
be mobile at home and at work, as well as provide
easy connections to the Internet and business
networks while on the road.
TABLE 1. Wi-Fi Terms
wireless.book Page 34 Friday, August 1, 2003 12:33 PM
