Linksys BEFSR41W manual Instant BroadbandTM Series

Instant BroadbandTM Series

DNS - The Domain Name System (DNS) is the way that Internet domain names are located and translated into Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. A domain name is a meaningful and easy-to-remember “handle” for an Internet address.

DSSS - Also known as “Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum,” this is a variety of radio transmission methods that continuously change frequencies or signal pat- terns. Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS), which is used in CDMA, multiplies the data bits by a very fast, pseudo-random bit pattern (PN sequence) that “spreads” the data into a large coded stream that takes the full bandwidth of the channel

Dynamic IP Address - An IP address that is automatically assigned to a client station in a TCP/IP network, typically by a DHCP server. Network devices that serve multiple users, such as servers and printers, are usually assigned static IP addresses.

ESS - More than one BSS in a network.

FHSS - Also known as “Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum.” Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) continuously changes the center frequency of a conventional carrier several times per second according to a pseudo-ran- dom set of channels, while chirp spread spectrum changes the carrier frequen- cy. Because a fixed frequency is not used, illegal monitoring of spread spec- trum signals is extremely difficult, if not downright impossible depending on the particular method.

Firewall - A firewall is a set of related programs, located at a network gateway server, that protects the resources of a network from users of other networks. (The term also implies the security policy that is used with the programs.) An enterprise with an intranet that allows its workers access to the wider Internet installs a firewall to prevent outsiders from accessing its own private data resources and to control which outside resources to which its own users have access.

Basically, a firewall, working closely with a router program, examines each network packet to determine whether to forward it toward its destination.

Firmware - Programming that is inserted into programmable read-only mem- ory, thus becoming a permanent part of a computing device.

EtherFast® Cable/DSL Wireless-Ready Router with 4-Port Switch

IEEE - The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The IEEE describes itself as “the world's largest technical professional society—promot- ing the development and application of electrotechnology and allied sciences for the benefit of humanity, the advancement of the profession, and the well- being of our members.”

The IEEE fosters the development of standards that often become national and international standards. The organization publishes a number of journals, has many local chapters, and has several large societies in special areas, such as the IEEE Computer Society.

Infrastructure - An infrastructure network is a wireless network or other small network in which the wireless network devices are made a part of the network through an Access Point that connects them to the rest of the network.

IP Address - In the most widely installed level of the Internet Protocol (IP) today, an IP address is a 32-binary digit number that identifies each sender or receiver of information that is sent in packets across the Internet. When you request an HTML page or send e-mail, the Internet Protocol part of TCP/IP includes your IP address in the message (actually, in each of the packets if more than one is required) and sends it to the IP address that is obtained by looking up the domain name in the Uniform Resource Locator you requested or in the e-mail address you're sending a note to. At the other end, the recipient can see the IP address of the Web page requester or the e-mail sender and can respond by sending another message using the IP address it received.

IPCONFIG - A utility that provides for querying, defining and managing IP addresses within a network. A commonly used utility, under Windows NT and 2000, for configuring networks with static IP addresses.

IPSec - IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) is a developing standard for securi- ty at the network or packet processing layer of network communication. A big advantage of IPSec is that security arrangements can be handled without requiring changes to individual user computers.

ISP - An ISP (Internet service provider) is a company that provides individuals and companies access to the Internet and other related services such as website building and virtual hosting.

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