Instant Wireless® Series
hardware and/or software processes reporting activity in each network device (hub, router, bridge, etc.) to the workstation console used to oversee the net- work. The agents return information contained in a MIB (Management Information Base), which is a data structure that defines what is obtainable from the device and what can be controlled (turned off, on, etc.).
Software - Instructions for the computer. A series of instructions that performs a particular task is called a “program.” The two major categories of software are “system software” and “application software.” System software is made up of control programs such as the operating system and database management sys- tem (DBMS). Application software is any program that processes data for the user.
A common misconception is that software is data. It is not. Software tells the hardware how to process the data.
SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) - Market segment of professionals who work at home or in small offices.
Spread Spectrum - Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequen- cy technique developed by the military for use in reliable, secure,
Static IP Address - A permanent IP address that is assigned to a node in a TCP/IP network.
Static Routing - Forwarding data in a network via a fixed path. Static routing cannot adjust to changing line conditions as can dynamic routing.
Storage - The
STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) - Telephone wire that is wrapped in a metal sheath to eliminate external interference.
Subnet Mask - The method used for splitting IP networks into a series of sub- groups, or subnets. The mask is a binary pattern that is matched up with the IP address to turn part of the host ID address field into a field for subnets.
Swapping - Replacing one segment of a program in memory with another and restoring it back to the original when required.
Switch – 1. A data switch connects computing devices to host computers, allowing a large number of devices to share a limited number of ports. 2. A device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical cir- cuit.
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - A method (protocol) used along with the IP (Internet Protocol) to send data in the form of message units (datagram) between network devices over a LAN or WAN. While IP takes care of handling the actual delivery of the data (routing), TCP takes care of keeping track of the individual units of data (called packets) that a message is divided into for effi- cient delivery over the network. TCP is known as a “connection oriented” pro- tocol due to requiring the receiver of a packet to return an acknowledgment of receipt to the sender of the packet resulting in transmission control.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - The basic com- munication language or set of protocols for communications over a network (developed specifically for the Internet). TCP/IP defines a suite or group of protocols and not only TCP and IP.
Telnet - A terminal emulation protocol commonly used on the Internet and
TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) - A version of the TCP/IP FTP protocol that has no directory or password capability.
Throughput - The amount of data moved successfully from one place to anoth- er in a given time period.
Topology - A network’s topology is a logical characterization of how the devices on the network are connected and the distances between them. The most common network devices include hubs, switches, routers, and gateways. Most large networks contain several levels of interconnection, the most impor- tant of which include edge connections, backbone connections, and
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