ZyXEL Communications 100 manual Pots, Pstn, Rfc

ZyAIR 100 Wireless PC Card

Port	An Internet port refers to a number that is part of a URL, appearing after a colon (J right
	after the domain name. Every service on an Internet server listens on a particular port number
	on that server. Most services have standard port numbers, e.g., web servers normally listen on
	port 80.
POTS	Plain Old Telephone Service is the analog telephone service that runs over copper twisted-pair
	wires and is based on the original Bell telephone system. Twisted-pair wires connect homes
	and businesses to a neighborhood central office. This is called the local loop. The central
	office is connected to other central offices and long-distance facilities.
Privacy	The service used to prevent the content of messages from being read by other than the
	intended recipients.
Protocol	A “language” for communicating on a network. Protocols are sets of standards or rules used
	to define, format and transmit data across a network. There are many different protocols used
	on networks. For example, most web pages are transmitted using the HTTP protocol.
Proxy Server	A server that performs network operations in lieu of other systems on the network. Proxy
	servers are most often used as part of a firewall to mask the identity of users inside a
	corporate network yet still provide access to the Internet. When a user connects to a proxy
	server via a web browser or other networked application, he submits commands to the proxy
	server. The server then submits those same commands to the Internet, yet without revealing
	any information about the system that originally requested the information. Proxy servers are
	an ideal way to also have all users on a corporate network channel through one point for all
	external communications. Proxy servers can be configured to block certain kinds of
	connections and stop some hacks.
PSTN	Public Switched Telephone Network was put into place many years ago as a voice telephone
	call-switching system. The system transmits voice calls as analog signals across copper
	twisted cables from homes and businesses to neighborhood COs (central offices); this is often
	called the local loop. The PSTN is a circuit-switched system, meaning that an end-to-end
	private circuit is established between caller and called.
Public Key	System of encrypting electronic files using a key pair. The key pair contains a public key used
Encryption	during encryption and a corresponding private key used during decryption.
Radio	A generic term for radio-based technology.
Frequency (RF)
Range	A linear measure of the distance that a transmitter can send a signal.
RFC	An RFC (Request for Comments) is an Internet formal document or standard that is the result
	of committee drafting and subsequent review by interested parties. Some RFCs are
	informational in nature. Of those that are intended to become Internet standards, the final
	version of the RFC becomes the standard and no further comments or changes are permitted.
	Change can occur, however, through subsequent RFCs.
Roaming	A function that enables one to travel with his mobile end system (e.g., wireless LAN mobile
	station) throughout a domain (e.g., an ESS) while being continuously connected to the
	infrastructure.
Router	A device that connects two networks together. Routers monitor, direct and filter information
	that passes between these networks. Because of their location, routers are a good place to

J Glossary