Chenbro Wireless LAN PC Card 11Mbps - Manual (Page 27)

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Appendix B: Glossary
Access Point- An internetworking device that seamlessly connects wired and
wireless networks together.
Ad-Hoc- An Ad-Hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers each with wireless
adapters, connected as an independent wireless LAN.
Backbone- The part of a network that connects most of the systems and networks
together and handles the most data. The core infrastructure of a network, the
portion of the network that transports information from one central location to
another central location. The information in then off-loaded onto a local system.
Bit- A binary digit. The value - 0 or 1 used in the binary numbering system. Also,
the smallest form of data.
BSS- Stands for Basic Service Set. An Access Point associated with several
stations.
Domain- A subnetwork comprised of a group of clients and servers under the
control of one security database. Dividing LANs into domains improves perfor
-mance and security.
DSSS- Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum is very widely known and the most used
of the spread spectrum types, owing most of its popularity to its ease of implemen-
tation and high data rates.
Encryption- A security method that applies a specific algorithm to data in order to
alter the data’s appearance and prevent other devices from reading the information
ESS- Stands for Extended Service Set. More than one BSS can be configured as
an Extended Service Set. An ESS basically a roaming domain.
Ethernet- A popular local area data communications network, originally developed
by Xerox Corp., which accepts transmission from computers and terminals.
Ethernet operates on 10 Mbps baseband transmission over shielded coaxial cable
or over shielded twisted pair telephone wire.
Firmware- Code that is written onto read-only memory (ROM) or programmable
read-only memory (PROM). Once firmware has been written onto the ROM or
PROM, it is retained even when the device is turned off.