10Base-TThe most common cabling method for Ethernet. 10Base-T conforms to IEEE standard 802.3. It was developed to enable data communications over unshielded twisted pair (telephone) wiring at speeds of up to 10 megabits per second (Mbps) up to distances of approximately 330 feet on a network segment.
10/100Base-TA networking standard that supports data transfer rates up to 100 Mbps. Because it is 10 times faster than Ethernet, it is often referred to as Fast Ethernet.
10/100/1000Base-TA term describing various technologies for transmitting Ethernet packets at a rate of a gigabit per second. Sometimes referred to as Gigabit Ethernet. In 2000, Apple’s Power Mac G4 and PowerBook G4 were the first mass-produced personal computers featuring the 10/100/1000Base-T connection. It quickly became a built-in feature in many other computers.
802.11a An IEEE standard for a wireless network that operates at 5 GHz with rates up to 54 Mbps.
802.11b An IEEE standard for a wireless network that operates at 2.4 GHz with rates up to 11 Mbps.
802.11g An IEEE standard for a wireless network that operates at 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi with rates up to 54 Mbps.
802.11n A task group of the IEEE 802.11 committee whose goal is to define a standard for high throughput speeds of at least 100 Mbps on wireless networks. Some proposals being fielded by the task group include designs for up to 540 Mbps, Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology, using multiple receivers and multiple transmitters in both the client and access point to achieve improved performance, is expected to form the basis of the final specification. See Mbps, MIMO.
access point Also known as a wireless access point (WAP), a device that connects wireless devices together to form a network.
authentication The process that occurs after association to verify the identity of the wireless device or end user and allow access to the network. See WPA, WPA2.
