Glossary

Gateway

A gateway is a device used to connect networks with completely different architectures (addressing, protocols, application interfaces, etc.). Although it is not totally correct, the term is also used as a synonym for router.

See also Bridge, Hub, Router, Switch

Hub

A hub connects several network components in a star-topology network by sending all the data it receives from one network component to all the other network components.

See also Bridge, Gateway, Router, Switch

IEEE

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

IEEE is an international body that defines network standards, especially to standardise LAN technologies, transmission protocols and speeds, and wiring.

IEEE 802.11

IEEE 802.11 is a standard for wireless LANs. In infrastructure mode, end devices can be connected to a base station (access point) or connect with each other spontaneously (ad-hoc mode).

Infrastructure mode

Infrastructure mode is a way of operating wireless local networks (WLAN), in which an access point handles the data traffic. Network components cannot establish a direct connection with each other as is the case in ad-hoc mode.

Internet

The Internet is a wide-area network (WAN) linking several million users around the world. A number of protocols have been created for exchanging data; these are known collectively under the name TCP/IP. All participants on the Internet can be identified by an IP address. Servers are addressed by a domain name (e.g. gigaset.com). Domain names are assigned to IP addresses by the Domain Name System (DNS).

Among the most important Internet services are:

uelectronic mail (email)

uthe World Wide Web (WWW) u file transfer (FTP)

u discussion forums (Usenet / Newsgroups)

Internet Service Provider

An Internet Service Provider offers access to the Internet for a fee.

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