Philips CPWUA054 User Manual page 26

Wireless USB Adapter 11g
DHCP server and client - DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. This
protocol is designed to automatically load parameters for the TCP/IP network, including the
IP address, host name, domain name, net-mask, default gateway, and name server address.
The machine that provides this service is called the DHCP server, and its client computers
are called DHCP clients. If client computers support DHCP, a TCP/IP configuration is not
needed on each client computer.
Domain - A sub-network comPhilipsed of a group of clients and servers under the control of
one security database. Dividing LANs into domains improves performance and security.
Driver - A workstation or server software module that provides an interface between a
network interface card and the upper-layer protocol software running in the computer; it is
designed for a specific NIC, and is installed during the initial installation of a network-
compatible client or server operating system.
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.
E
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.
Ethernet - The most widely used LAN access method, which is defined by the IEEE 802.3
standard. Ethernet is normally a shared media LAN meaning all devices on the network
segment share total bandwidth. Ethernet networks operate at 10Mbp using CSMA/CD to run
over 10Base T cables.
F
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.
I
IEEE - The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
IEEE 802.11b standard - The IEEE 802.11b 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
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