Glossary

Driver: Software that interfaces a computer with a specific hardware device.

DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum): Method of spreading a wireless signal into wide frequency bandwidth.

DTE (Data Terminal Equipment): Device

that con10BaseT or 100BaseTx: 802.3 based Ethernet network that uses UTP (Unshielded twisted pair) cable and a star topology. 10 is 10 Mbps and 100 is 100 Mbps.

802.1x: The standard for wireless LAN authenti- cation used between an AP and a client. 802.1x with EAP will initiate key handling.

Ad-Hoc Network: The wireless network based on a peer-to-peer communications session. Also referred to as AdHoc.

Bandwidth: The transmission capacity of a computer or a communication channel, stated in Megabits per second (Mbps).

BSS (Basic Service Set): An 802.11 network- ing framework that includes an Access Point.

Bus Mastering: A system in which the speci- fied Input/Output device (e.g. NIC Card) can perform tasks without the intervention of the CPU.

Client: A PC or workstation on a network.

Cross-Over Wiring: A UTP cable that has its transmit and receive pair crossed to allow com- munications between two devices.

DCE (Data Communications Equipment): Hardware used for communication with a Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) device.

Default Gateway: The IP Address of either the nearest router or server for the LAN.

Default Parameter: Parameter set by the manufacturer.

Destination Address: The address portion of a packet that identifies the intended recipient station.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Pro- tocol): Based on BOOTP, it uses a pool of IP addresses, which it assigns to each device con-