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20. Glossary
Access point (AP), wireless AP
Also known as a base station, this is an electronic
device that functions as an interface for wireless
communications devices. End devices make a radio
connection to the wireless access point via a wireless
adapter. The access point can also be connected by
cable to a permanently installed communications
network.
Operating system
Software with which the user and the other software
installed on the system can communicate with the
computer hardware, such as the hard drive.
BSSID (MAC)
The basic service set identification (BSSID)
corresponds to the MAC address of the wireless access
point.
Client mode
Client mode is an operating mode of a wireless
access point (here: the WLAN hard drive) in which the
device behaves like a wireless adapter towards the
higher-level AP. With an AP operated in client mode,
individual computers can be connected to a higher-
level network without their own wireless adapter.
DHCP – Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
A protocol for assigning an IP address to devices in
