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Appendix D: Glossary
Wireless A/G USB Network Adapter
DHCP
(
D
ynamic
H
ost
C
onfiguration
P
rotocol) - A networking protocol that allows administrators to assign
temporary IP addresses to network computers by “leasing” an IP address to a user for a limited amount of time,
instead of assigning permanent IP addresses.
DNS
(
D
omain
N
ame
S
erver) - The IP address of your ISP's server, which translates the names of websites into IP
addresses.
Domain
- A specific name for a network of computers.
DSSS
(
D
irect-
S
equence
S
pread-
S
pectrum) - Frequency transmission with a redundant bit pattern resulting in a
lower probability of information being lost in transit.
EAP
(
E
xtensible
A
uthentication
P
rotocol) - A general authentication protocol used to control network access.
Many specific authentication methods work within this framework.
EAP-PEAP
(
E
xtensible
A
uthentication
P
rotocol-
P
rotected
E
xtensible
A
uthentication
P
rotocol) - A mutual
authentication method that uses a combination of digital certificates and another system, such as passwords.
EAP-TLS
(
E
xtensible
A
uthentication
P
rotocol-
T
ransport
L
ayer
S
ecurity) - A mutual authentication method that
uses digital certificates.
Encryption
- Encoding data transmitted in a network.
Ethernet
- IEEE standard network protocol that specifies how data is placed on and retrieved from a common
transmission medium.
Firmware
- The programming code 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.
Gateway
- A device that interconnects networks with different, incompatible communications protocols.
Hardware
- The physical aspect of computers, telecommunications, and other information technology devices.
Infrastructure
- A wireless network that is bridged to a wired network via an access point.
IP
(
I
nternet
P
rotocol) - A protocol used to send data over a network.
IP Address
- The address used to identify a computer or device on a network.
ISM band
- Radio bandwidth utilized in wireless transmissions.