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Reference Manual for the ME103 802.11b ProSafe Wireless Access Point
Glossary
3
August 2003
Because domain names are alphabetic, they're easier to remember. The Internet however, is really based on
IP addresses. Every time you use a domain name, therefore, a DNS service must translate the name into the
corresponding IP address. For example, the domain name www.example.com might translate to
198.105.232.4. The DNS system is, in fact, its own network. If one DNS server doesn't know how to
translate a particular domain name, it asks another one, and so on, until the correct IP address is returned.
Domain Name
A descriptive name for an address or group of addresses on the Internet. Domain names are of the form of a
registered entity name plus one of a number of predefined top level suffixes such as .com, .edu, .uk, etc. For
example, in the address mail.NETGEAR.com, mail is a server name and NETGEAR.com is the domain.
DSL
Short for digital subscriber line, but is commonly used in reference to the asymmetric version of this
technology (ADSL) that allows data to be sent over existing copper telephone lines at data rates of from 1.5
to 9 Mbps when receiving data (known as the downstream rate) and from 16 to 640 Kbps when sending data
(known as the upstream rate).
ADSL requires a special ADSL modem. ADSL is growing in popularity as more areas around the world
gain access.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
DHCP. An Ethernet protocol specifying how a centralized DHCP server can assign network configuration
information to multiple DHCP clients. The assigned information includes IP addresses, DNS addresses, and
gateway (router) addresses.
EAP
Extensible Authentication Protocol is a general protocol for authentication that supports multiple
authentication methods.
EAP, an extension to PPP, supports such authentication methods as token cards, Kerberos, one-time
passwords, certificates, public key authentication and smart cards. In wireless communications using EAP, a
user requests connection to a WLAN through an AP, which then requests the identity of the user and
transmits that identity to an authentication server such as RADIUS. The server asks the AP for proof of
identity, which the AP gets from the user and then sends back to the server to complete the authentication.
EAP is defined by RFC 2284.
ESSID
The Extended Service Set Identification (ESSID) is a thirty-two character (maximum) alphanumeric key
identifying the wireless local area network.
Gateway
A local device, usually a router, that connects hosts on a local network to other networks.
IP
Internet Protocol is the main internetworking protocol used in the Internet. Used in conjunction with the
Transfer Control Protocol (TCP) to form TCP/IP.
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Glossary
August 2003
IP Address
A four-byte number uniquely defining each host on the Internet, usually written in dotted-decimal notation
with periods separating the bytes (for example, 134.177.244.57).
Ranges of addresses are assigned by Internic, an organization formed for this purpose.
ISP
Internet service provider.
Internet Protocol
The main internetworking protocol used in the Internet. Used in conjunction with the Transfer Control
Protocol (TCP) to form TCP/IP.
LAN
A communications network serving users within a limited area, such as one floor of a building.
local area network
LAN. A communications network serving users within a limited area, such as one floor of a building.
A LAN typically connects multiple personal computers and shared network devices such as storage and
printers. Although many technologies exist to implement a LAN, Ethernet is the most common for
connecting personal computers.
MAC address
The Media Access Control address is a unique 48-bit hardware address assigned to every network interface
card. Usually written in the form 01:23:45:67:89:ab.
Mbps
Megabits per second.
MD5
MD5 creates digital signatures using a one-way hash function, meaning that it takes a message and converts
it into a fixed string of digits, also called a message digest.
When using a one-way hash function, one can compare a calculated message digest against the message
digest that is decrypted with a public key to verify that the message hasn't been tampered with. This
comparison is called a "hashcheck."
MDI/MDIX
In cable wiring, the concept of transmit and receive are from the perspective of the PC, which is wired as a
Media Dependant Interface (MDI). In MDI wiring, a PC transmits on pins 1 and 2. At the hub, switch,
router, or access point, the perspective is reversed, and the hub receives on pins 1 and 2. This wiring is
referred to as Media Dependant Interface - Crossover (MDI-X). See also Auto Uplink.
NAT
A technique by which several hosts share a single IP address for access to the Internet.
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Glossary
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August 2003
NetBIOS
Network Basic Input Output System. An application programming interface (API)
for sharing services
and information on l
ocal-area networks (LANs). Provides for communication between stations of a
network where each station is given a name. These names are alphanumeric names, 16 characters in length.
netmask
Combined with the IP address, the IP Subnet Mask allows a device to know which other addresses are local
to it, and which must be reached through a gateway or router.
A number that explains which part of an IP address comprises the network address and which part is the host
address on that network. It can be expressed in dotted-decimal notation or as a number appended to the IP
address. For example, a 28-bit mask starting from the MSB can be shown as 255.255.255.192 or as /28
appended to the IP address.
Network Address Translation
A technique by which several hosts share a single IP address for access to the Internet.
packet
A block of information sent over a network. A packet typically contains a source and destination network
address, some protocol and length information, a block of data, and a checksum.
Point-to-Point Protocol
PPP. A protocol allowing a computer using TCP/IP to connect directly to the Internet.
RADIUS
Short for Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service, RADIUS is an authentication system.
Using RADIUS, you must enter your user name and password before gaining access to a network. This
information is passed to a RADIUS server, which checks that the information is correct, and then authorizes
access. Though not an official standard, the RADIUS specification is maintained by a working group of the
IETF.
RIP
A protocol in which routers periodically exchange information with one another so that they can determine
minimum distance paths between sources and destinations.
router
A device that forwards data between networks. An IP router forwards data based on IP source and
destination addresses.
SSID
A Service Set Identification is a thirty-two character (maximum) alphanumeric key identifying a wireless
local area network. For the wireless devices in a network to communicate with each other, all devices must
be configured with the same SSID.
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Reference Manual for the ME103 802.11b ProSafe Wireless Access Point
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Glossary
August 2003
This is typically the configuration parameter for a wireless PC card. It corresponds to the ESSID in the
wireless Access Point and to the wireless network name.
See also
Wireless Network Name and ESSID.
Subnet Mask
Combined with the IP address, the IP Subnet Mask allows a device to know which other addresses are local
to it, and which must be reached through a gateway or router.
TLS
Short for Transport Layer Security, TLS is a protocol that guarantees privacy and data integrity between
client/server applications communicating over the Internet.
The TLS protocol is made up of two layers. The TLS Record Protocol ensures that a connection is private by
using symmetric data encryption and ensures that the connection is reliable. The second TLS layer is the
TLS Handshake Protocol, which allows authentication between the server and client and the negotiation of
an encryption algorithm and cryptographic keys before data is transmitted or received. Based on Netscape’s
SSL 3.0, TLS supercedes and is an extension of SSL. TLS and SSL are not interoperable.
UTP
Unshielded twisted pair is the cable used by 10BASE-T and 100BASE-Tx Ethernet networks.
WAN
A long distance link used to extend or connect remotely located local area networks. The Internet is a large
WAN.
WEP
Wired Equivalent Privacy is a data encryption protocol for 802.11b wireless networks.
All wireless nodes and access points on the network are configured with a 64-bit or 128-bit Shared Key for
data encryption.
wide area network
WAN. A long distance link used to extend or connect remotely located local area networks. The Internet is a
large WAN.
Wi-Fi
A trade name for the 802.11b wireless networking standard, given by the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility
Alliance (WECA, see http://www.wi-fi.net), an industry standards group promoting interoperability among
802.11b devices.
Windows Internet Naming Service
WINS. Windows Internet Naming Service is a server process for resolving Windows-based computer names
to IP addresses.
If a remote network contains a WINS server, your Windows PCs can gather information from that WINS
server about its local hosts. This allows your PCs to browse that remote network using the Windows
Network Neighborhood feature.
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Reference Manual for the ME103 802.11b ProSafe Wireless Access Point
Glossary
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August 2003
WINS
WINS. Windows Internet Naming Service is a server process for resolving Windows-based computer names
to IP addresses.
Wireless Network Name (SSID)
Wireless Network Name (SSID) is the name assigned to a wireless network. This is the same as the SSID or
ESSID configuration parameter.

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