802.1Q

IEEE 802.1Q is the IEEE standard for Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) specific to wireless technologies.

(See http://www.ieee802.org/1/pages/802.1Q.html.) The standard addresses the problem of how to break large networks into smaller parts to prevent broadcast and multicast data traffic from consuming more bandwidth than is necessary. 802.11Q also provides for better security between segments of internal networks. The 802.1Q specification provides a standard method for inserting VLAN membership information into Ethernet frames.

Access Point

An access point is the communication hub for the devices on a WLAN, providing a connection or bridge between wireless and wired network devices. It supports a Wireless Networking Framework called Infrastructure Mode.

When one access point is connected to wired network and supports a set of wireless stations, it is referred to as a basic service set (BSS). An extended service set (ESS) is created by combining two or more BSSs.

Ad-hoc Mode

Ad-hoc mode is a Wireless Networking Framework in which stations communicate directly with each other. It is useful for quickly establishing a network in situations where formal infrastructure is not required.

Ad-hoc mode is also referred to as peer-to-peer mode or an independent basic service set (IBSS).

AES

The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a symmetric 128-bit block data encryption technique developed to replace DES encryption. AES works at multiple network layers simultaneously.

Further information is available on the NIST Web site.

Basic Rate Set

The basic rate set defines the transmission rates that are mandatory for any station wanting to join this wireless network. All stations must be able to receive data at the rates listed in this set.

Beacon

Beacon frames provide the “heartbeat” of a WLAN, announcing the existence of the network, and enabling stations to establish and maintain communications in an orderly fashion. It carries the following information (some of which is optional):

■The Timestamp is used by stations to update their local clock, enabling synchronization among all associated stations.

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