Appendix A: Glossary
IP address - A a number that uniquely identifies a computer on the network.
IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) - A standard method for providing data confidentiality, integrity, and the authentication between participating hosts.
ISP (Internet service provider) - A company that provides access to the Internet. Most ISPs also provide
LAN (local area network) - A LAN uses network hardware, such as network adapters, hubs, cables, and wireless devices, to link multiple computers for sharing resources, such files, printers, and an Internet connection.
MAC (Media Access Control) Address - A unique number assigned to networking hardware, such as routers, hubs, and network interface cards by the manufacturer.
Mbps (MegaBits Per Second) - Transfer speed of 1 million bits per second.
network - Two or more computers linked together for the purpose of sharing resources, such as files, printers, or a Internet connection. Routers are often used to link the device, especially if the network includes more than two computers.
packet - A unit of transmitted data. When a server sends information, such as
passphrase - Similar to a password, a passphrase is a sequence of characters used by the router to create encryption keys.
ping (Packet INternet Groper) - A network utility that determines if a remote device, such as a server, can be reached on the network. For more information, see “Ping utility” on page 58.
port - A computer program using TCP/IP sends information to another computer through a port. Ports are assigned numbers that come after a standard IP address. Many programs hide these port numbers to reduce the complexity of TCP/IP.
port forwarding - Port forwarding, unlike DMZ hosting, lets a single computer on your LAN expose only one of its ports to the Internet. This type of port exposure has more security than DMZ hosting.
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