SMC Networks SMCWUSB32 guide

Ethernet - A standard for computer networks. Ethernet networks are connected by special cables and hubs, and move data around at up to 10 million bits per second (Mbps).

ESS - ESS (ESS-ID, SSID) stands for "Extended Service Set". More than one BSS is configured to become an Extended Service Set. LAN mobile users can roam between different BSSs in an ESS (ESS-ID, SSID).

Fast Ethernet NIC - Network interface card that is in compliance with the IEEE 802.3u standard. This card functions at the media access control (MAC) layer, using carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD).

Fixed IP – (see Static IP)

Full-Duplex - Transmitting and receiving data simultaneously. In pure digital networks, this is achieved with two pairs of wires. In analog networks, or digital networks using carriers, it is achieved by dividing the bandwidth of the line into two frequencies, one for sending, one for receiving.

Hub - Central connection device for shared media in a star topology. It may add nothing to the transmission (passive hub) or may contain electronics that regenerate signals to boost strength as well as monitor activity (active/intelligent hub). Hubs may be added to bus topologies; for example, a hub can turn an Ethernet network into a star topology to improve troubleshooting.

ID3 – The data fields in an MP3 that hold the artist name, track titles, album titles, genre, etc are known as ID3 tags.

IP Address - IP stands for Internet Protocol. An IP address consists of a series of four numbers separated by periods, that identifies an single, unique Internet computer host. Example: 192.34.45.8.

ISP - Internet Service Provider. An ISP is a business that provides connectivity to the Internet for individuals and other businesses or organizations.

JPEG – Joint Photographic Experts Group. JPEG is a standard for compressing still images and it provides compression with ratios up to 100:1. File extensions are .JPG or .JPEG.

LAN - A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. It is made up of servers, workstations, a network operating system and a communications link. Servers are high-speed machines that hold programs and data shared by network users. The workstations (clients) are the users' personal computers, which perform stand-alone processing and access the network servers as required.

Diskless and floppy-only workstations are sometimes used, which retrieve all software and data from the server. Increasingly, "thin client" network computers (NCs) and Windows terminals are also used. A printer can be attached locally to a workstation or to a server and be shared by network users. Small LANs can allow certain workstations to function as a server, allowing users access to data on another user's machine. These peer-to-peer networks are often simpler to install and manage, but dedicated servers provide better performance and can handle higher transaction volume. Multiple servers are used in large networks.

The message transfer is managed by a transport protocol such as TCP/IP and NetBEUI. The physical transmission of data is performed by the access method (Ethernet, Token Ring, etc.),