Microsoft MN-820 manual Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit User’s Guide

UPnP UPnP™ standards are defined by the Universal Plug and Play Forum. They extend conventional Plug and Play (PnP) standards. When a UPnP device is plugged into a network, the other devices on the network automatically detect the new device.

USB Acronym for “universal serial bus.” A hardware standard for easily connecting peripherals to a computer system. USB supports Plug and Play and UPnP installation, so devices can be connected and disconnected without shutting down and restarting your computer.

USB port A rectangular slot in a computer or computer peripheral into which a USB connector is inserted. USB ports can be high-powered or low- powered. USB ports that are connected directly to your computer are normally high-powered; USB ports that are on peripherals (such as a keyboard or monitor) are normally low-powered. Some USB devices, such as the Microsoft wireless adapter, require high-powered ports to function correctly.

virtual DMZ The Microsoft base stations support a variation of DMZ hosting capabilities, called a “virtual DMZ.” DMZ is an acronym for “demilitarized zone,” which refers to an area of your network that is outside of the firewall, and so is exposed to direct access from the Internet.

VPN Acronym for “virtual private network.” A set of computers on a public network, such as the Internet, that communicate among themselves by using encryption technology.

WAN Acronym for “wide area network.” A geographically widespread network that might include many linked local area networks (LANs).

WEP Acronym for “Wired Equivalent Privacy.” An encryption mechanism that helps protect data transmitted over wireless networks. If you are operating a wireless network, it is strongly recommended that you enable WEP. See “WPA.”

Wi-Fi Wi-Fi®is a popular term for certain wireless networks.

wireless access A device that exchanges data wirelessly as an intermediary between point computers on a network, especially between wireless and wired

components of a network. An access point is not as sophisticated a device as a base station (gateway or router). See “base station.”

WLAN Acronym for “wireless local area network.” A network that exclusively relies on wireless technology for device connections.

workgroup A group of computers connected to each other over a network and sharing computer files, printers, and other resources. All computers on a network that wish to share resources must be members of the same workgroup.

WPA Acronym for “Wi-Fi Protected Access™.” A wireless security standard that improves upon its predecessor, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), by providing stronger encryption, making a network harder to access without proper authentication.

82Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit User’s Guide