Using the Wireless LAN

Learning the Terms

It is recommended that you become familiar with the following terms as you begin to use WLAN technology.

TermDefinition

 

 

Wireless Access Point

The access point provides a wireless

 

connection to a network (additional

 

hardware).

 

 

Infrastructure

This connection mode uses wireless

 

access points to connect to networks.

 

 

Device-to-computer or

This mode does not use access points.

ad-hoc

It is used in peer-to-peer network

 

communications.

 

 

Hot spots

Public or private areas where there is a

 

wireless access point available.

 

 

SSID or Network Name

SSID is the acronym for the service set

 

identifier. This identification number uses a

 

maximum number of 32 characters and is

 

case sensitive.

 

 

Encryption (WEP) or

A set of security services used to protect

IEEE 802.1X

802.11 networks from unauthorized

 

access.

 

 

User’s Guide

9–2