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5. Glossary
Ad-Hoc Mode
An Ad-hoc integrated wireless LAN is a group of computers, each has a Wireless LAN adapter, Connected as an
independent wireless LAN. Ad hoc wireless LAN is applicable at a departmental scale for a branch or SOHO operation.
BSS ID
A specific Ad hoc LAN is called a Basic Service Set (BSS). Computers in a BSS must be configured with the same
BSS ID.
DSSS (Direct-Sequencing Spread-Spectrum)
DSSS operate over the radio airwaves in the unlicensed ISM band (industrial, scientific, medical). DSSS uses a
radio transmitter to spread data packets over a fixed range of frequency band.
Encryption
A security method that applies a specific algorithm to data in order to alter the data appearance and prevent other
devices from reading the information.
Firmware
Program that is inserted into programmable read-only memory (programmable read-only memory), thus becoming a
permanent part of a computing device.
Fragmentation Threshold Value
Indicates how much of the network resources is devoted to recovering packet errors. The value should remain at its
default setting of 2,432. If you experience high packet error rates, you can decrease this value but it will likely decrease
overall network performance. Only minor modifications of this value are recommended.
Fragmentation
Breaking a packet into smaller units when transmitting over a network medium that cannot support the original size
of the packet.
IEEE
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
IEEE 802.11b/g standard
The IEEE 802.11b/g Wireless LAN standards subcommittee formulating standards for the industry. The objective is
to enable wireless LAN hardware from different manufacturers to communicate.
Infrastructure Mode
A client setting providing connectivity to an Access Point. As compared to Ad-Hoc Mode where PCs communicate
directly with each other clients set in
Infrastructure Mode all pass data through a central Access Point. The Access Point not only mediates Wireless
network traffic in the immediate neighborhood but also pro-vides communication with the wired network. An integrated
wireless and wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure configuration. Infrastructure is applicable to enterprise
scale for wireless access to central database, or wireless application for mobile workers.
Roaming
The ability to use a wireless device and be able to move from one access point range to another without losing the
connection.
