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Appendix E: Glossary
Wireless-G PCI Adapter
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.
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.
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.
ISP
(
I
nternet
S
ervice
P
rovider) - A company that provides access to the Internet.
LAN
- The computers and networking products that make up your local network.
MAC
(
M
edia
A
ccess
C
ontrol)
Address
- The unique address that a manufacturer assigns to each networking
device.
Mbps
(
M
ega
B
its
P
er
S
econd) - One million bits per second; a unit of measurement for data transmission.
Network
- A series of computers or devices connected for the purpose of data sharing, storage, and/or
transmission between users.
Node
- A network junction or connection point, typically a computer or work station.
Packet
- A unit of data sent over a network.
Passphrase
- Used much like a password, a passphrase simplifies the WEP encryption process by automatically
generating the WEP encryption keys for Linksys products.
Port
- The connection point on a computer or networking device used for plugging in cables or adapters.
