EAP

The Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) is an authentication protocol that supports multiple methods, such as token cards, Kerberos, one-time passwords, certificates, public key authentication, and smart cards.

Variations on EAP include EAP Cisco Wireless (LEAP), Protected EAP (PEAP), EAP-TLS, and EAP Tunnelled TLS (EAP-TTLS).

ESS

An extended service set (ESS) is an Infrastructure Mode Wireless Networking Framework with multiple access points, forming a single subnetwork that can support more clients than a basic service set (BSS).

Each access point supports a number of wireless stations, providing broader wireless coverage for a large space, for example, an office.

Ethernet

Ethernet is a local-area network (LAN) architecture supporting data transfer rates of 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps.

The Ethernet specification is the basis for the IEEE 802.3 standard, which specifies the physical and lower software layers. It uses the CSMA/CA access method to handle simultaneous demands.

Ethernet supports data rates of 10 Mbps, Fast Ethernet supports 100 Mbps, and Gigabit Ethernet supports 1 Gbps. Its cables are classified as “XbaseY”, where X is the data rate in Mbps and Y is the category of cabling. The original cable was 10base5 (Thicknet or “Yellow Cable”). Some others are 10base2 (Cheapernet), 10baseT (Twisted Pair), and 100baseT (Fast Ethernet). The latter two are commonly supplied using CAT5 cabling with RJ-45connectors. There is also 1000baseT (Gigabit Ethernet).

Frame

A Frame consists of a discrete portion of data along with some descriptive meta-information packaged for transmission on a wireless network. Each frame includes a source and destination MAC address, a control field with protocol version, frame type, frame sequence number, frame body (with the actual information to be transmitted) and frame check sequence for error detection. A Frame is similar in concept to a Packet, the difference being that a packet operates on the Network layer (layer 3 in the OSI model) whereas a frame operates on the Data-Link layer (layer 2 in the OSI model).

Gateway

A gateway is a network node that serves as an entrance to another network. A gateway also often provides a proxy server and a firewall. It is associated with both a router, which use headers and forwarding tables to determine where packets are sent, and a switch or bridge, which provides the actual path for the packet in and out of the gateway.

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