Glossary
IP address
The address of a host on the Internet, consisting of four numbers, each from 0 to 255, separated by periods, for example 192.168.1.1. An IP address consists of a network ID that identifies the particular network the host belongs to, and a host ID uniquely identifying the host itself on that network. A network mask is used to define the network ID and the host ID.
LAN
Local Area Network.
A computer network limited to the immediate area, such as a home, office, or small building.
Lease time
The amount of time that an dynamically assigned IP address will be valid for a specific device.
MAC address
Media Access Control address.
The permanent hardware address of a device assigned by its manufacturer. MAC addresses are expressed as six pairs of hexadecimal characters
Mass Storage
Various techniques and devices used to store large amounts of data. An example of a mass storage device is a hard disk.
NAT
Network Address Translation.
A service performed by many routers that translates a network’s IP address into a private IP address for each device on the LAN. Only the router and the LAN know these addresses; the outside world sees only the public IP address when talking to a computer on the LAN.
Network mask
A sequence of bits applied to an IP address to select the network ID while ignoring the host ID. Bits set to 1 mean “select this bit” while bits set to 0 mean “ignore this bit”. For example, if the network mask 255.255.255.0 is applied to the IP address 100.10.50.1, the network ID is 100.10.50, and the host ID is 1. See also subnet mask.
Packet
The units of data transmitted on a network. Each packet contains a payload (the data), plus overhead information such as where it came from (source address) and where it will go (destination address).
Pass Phrase
A secret password used for WPA and WPA2 wireless data encryption. The encryption is based on a WPA master key that is derived from the pass phrase and the network name (SSID).
PC
Personal Computer.
A computer designed for use by one person at a time.
PIN
Personal Identification Number.
A secret code used for individual access to for example computer networks. Generally, a PIN is made up of 4 to 10 digits.
PPP
A protocol for serial data transmission that is used to carry IP (and other protocol) data between the service provider and your computer.
Private IP Address
A private IP Address is typically assigned to a client on a LAN (Local Area Network) and is not used outside the LAN. Private IP addresses are typically used when multiple computers share the same Internet connection.
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