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Glossary
Network
A network is a group of devices connected in wired or wireless mode so that they can
share resources such as data and peripherals. A general distinction is made between
local area networks (LAN) and wide area networks (WAN).
Network adapter
The network adapter is the hardware device that implements the connection of a net-
work component to a local network. The connection can be wired or wireless. An Ether-
net network card is an example of a wired network adapter. The Gigaset USB Adapter
300 is an examples of a wireless network adapter.
A network adapter has a unique address, the MAC address.
Protocol
A protocol describes the arrangements for communicating on a network. It contains
rules for opening, administering and closing a connection, for data formats, time
frames and error handling. The TCP/IP protocols are an example of protocols used for
communication within a network.
RC4
RC4 is an encryption algorithm on which WEP and TKIP encryption are based. Special
features of this algorithm are a secret key and variable key length.
Roaming
Roaming extends the range of a wireless LAN with several
Access points
that use the
same
SSID
and the same radio channel and are linked via Encryption. The PCs in the net-
work can switch dynamically between several access points without losing the existing
network connection.
Router
A router directs data packets from one local network (LAN) to another via the fastest
route. A router makes it possible to connect networks that have different network tech-
nologies. For example, it can link a local network via
Encryption
or
WLAN
technology to
the Internet.
See also: Bridge, Switch, Hub,
Gateway
SSID
Service Set Identifier
The SSID is used to identify the stations in a wireless network (WLAN). All wireless net-
work components with the same SSID form a common network. The SSID can be
assigned by the network operator.
Static IP address
A static
IP address
is assigned to a network component manually during network con-
figuration. Unlike a
Dynamic IP
address, a static IP address never changes.
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