Common Wlan Terms - HP iPAQ h6315 Networking Manual

Wireless fidelity
Wi-Fi, also known as 802.11, is a communication standard created by the Institute of Electrical and
Electronic Engineers (IEEE). The 802.11 standard defines the electrical and radio frequency
components of a wireless Ethernet. This standard also defines an encryption algorithm (Wired
Equivalent Privacy, or WEP) to secure the network. The Wi-Fi Alliance is the body that ensures
compatibility and is responsible for issuing standard compliance tests and logos.
Wi-Fi hotspots
Wi-Fi hotspots are WLANs that use the IEEE 802.11 protocol to establish wireless connections for
general public use. Offered to customers by a growing number of hotels, restaurants, airport lounges,
coffee shops and other businesses, Wi-Fi hotspots enable users to access Internet resources, send and
receive e-mail, use instant messaging, and perform similar tasks they would otherwise perform on their
business or home PCs. Many Wi-Fi hotspots charge their customers a fee for this service.
Convenience and increased productivity make Wi-Fi hotspots attractive to users on the go, but
hotspots can also increase the possibility of security risks. The security risks are manageable,
however, if safety precautions are taken. For information about measures users can take to minimize
security risks in WLAN connections, refer to the HP white paper entitled secure wireless local area
networks with hp mobile devices located at
.
http://www.hp.com/sbso/wireless/secure_wlan_mobile.pdf
What's the difference between wireless and mobile?
A mobile device is a portable device. A desktop could be a mobile device if it could be easily carried
around. A wireless device, such as the HP iPAQ rx3000, h4100, h4300, hx4700, h5400, h5500,
or h6300 series handheld device, provides some type of network connectivity. A cell phone is
wireless; a laptop or PDA can be wireless when using a wireless modem. Similarly, applications are
wireless when they connect and exchange data with a network.

Common WLAN terms

Use the next few sections to become familiar with the following terms as you begin to use wireless
technology. This section includes the following topics:
• Access points
• Virtual private network
• Voice over IP
• Terminal Services client
• Subnet
Access points
Access points connect wireless networks and enable the sending and receiving of data between
wireless clients. It is the connection point for a network, most often a component that is hard wired
into the main network. Access points are responsible for converting the wired network into a wireless
one. An access point serves as a communication hub, a traffic controller, directing all the data on the
network and allowing a user to communicate at maximum speed.
Wireless networks allow users to "roam" between access points, working in much the same way as
cellular phones. More detailed information about roaming appears later in this document.
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