Terminology - SMC Networks 7004VBR - annexe 2 Manual

9 | Terminology

10BaseT - Physical Layer Specification for Twisted-Pair Ethernet using Unshielded Twisted Pair wire at
10Mbps. This is the most popular type of LAN cable used today because it is very cheap and easy to
install. It uses RJ-45 connectors and has a cable length span of up to 100 meters. There are two versions,
STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) which is more expensive and UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair), the most
popular cable. These cables come in 5 different categories. However, only 3 are normally used in LANs,
Category 3, 4 and 5. CAT 3 TP (Twisted Pair) cable has a network data transfer rate of up to 10Mbps.
CAT 4 TP cable has a network data transfer rate of up to 16Mbps. CAT 5 TP cable has a network data
transfer rate of up to 100Mbps.
Access Point - A device that is able to receive wireless signals and transmit them to the wired
network, and vice versa - thereby creating a connection between the wireless and wired networks.
Ad Hoc - An ad hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers, each with LAN adapters, connected as an
independent wireless LAN.
Adapter - A device used to connect end-user nodes to the network; each contains an interface to a specific
type of computer or system bus, e.g. EISA, ISA, PCI, PCMCIA, CardBus, etc.
Auto-Negotiation - A signaling method that allows each node to define its operational mode (e.g., 10/100
Mbps and half/full duplex) and to detect the operational mode of the adjacent node.
Backbone - The core infrastructure of a network. The portion of the network that transports information
from one central location to another central location where it is unloaded onto a local system.
Base Station - In mobile telecommunications, a base station is the central radio transmitter/receiver that
maintains communications with the mobile radiotelephone sets within its range. In cellular and personal
communications applications, each cell or micro-cell has its own base station; each base station in turn is
interconnected with other cells' bases.
Bitmap – A Windows and OS/2 bitmapped graphics file format. Bitmap files provide formats for 2, 16,
256, or 16 million colors. It uses the extension .BMP.
BSS - BSS stands for "Basic Service Set". It is an Access Point and all the LAN PCs that are
associated with it.
CHAP - When authenticating using Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP), the knowledge
of the password, rather than the password itself is what is sent by the client. With CHAP, the Broadband
Router sends the remote client a challenge string. The remote client uses the challenge string and the
password, and creates a Message Digest-5 (MD5) hash which is then forwarded to the server. The server
computes the same hash calculation and compares the result with the hash sent by the client. If they match,
the remote client is considered an authentic user.
CSMA/CA - Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance
DES - Data Encryption Standard. A cryptographic encryption algorithm that is part of many
standards.
DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. This protocol automatically configures the TCP/IP
settings of every computer on your home network.
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