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Appendix A Glossary
802.11b - An IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of
11Mbps and an operating frequency of 2.4GHz.
802.11g - An IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of
54Mbps, an operating frequency of 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with 802.11b devices.
Adapter - This is a device that adds network functionality to your PC.
Ad-hoc - A group of wireless devices communicating directly with each other (peer-to-peer) without
the use of an access point.
Backbone - The part of a network that connects most of the systems and networks together, and
handles the most data.
Bandwidth - The transmission capacity of a given device or network.
Beacon Interval - Data transmitted on your wireless network that keeps the network synchronized.
Bit - A binary digit.
Browser - An application program that provides a way to look at and interact with all the information
on the World Wide Web.
CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance) - A method of data transfer that is used
to prevent data collisions.
CTS (Clear To Send) - A signal sent by a wireless device, signifying that it is ready to receive data.
Database - A collection of data that is organized so that its contents can easily be accessed, managed,
and updated.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - A networking protocol that allows administrators to
assign temporary IP addresses to network computers by "leasing" an IP address to a user for a limited
amount of time, instead of assigning permanent IP addresses.
Download - To receive a file transmitted over a network.
DSSS (Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum) - Frequency transmission with a redundant bit pattern
resulting in a lower probability of information being lost in transit.
DTIM (Delivery Traffic Indication Message) - A message included in data packets that can increase
wireless efficiency.
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.
Firmware - The programming code that runs a networking device.
Fragmentation -Breaking a packet into smaller units when transmitting over a network medium that
cannot support the original size of the packet.