Glossary
Channel number
The frequency used for wireless communications.
Wireless communications are available only among client computers and Access Points that use the same channel.
Client
A single computer on a wireless LAN. It may be called a client computer as well.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
DHCP lets network administrators centrally manage and automate assignment of IP addresses with a network environment.
DNS (Domain Name System)
A system that translates host names into IP addresses.
Networks that use the TCP/IP protocol, such as the Internet, use a set of numbers like 192.168.0.1 (IP address) to identify a computer.
However, since the IP address is rather hard to remember, DNS was developed to allow a name like “www.sony.com” to identify a computer for convenience.
DNS servers manage these translations from host names into IP addresses.
Encryption Key
Using the Encryption Key as the password, only client computers and Access Points that have the same ID and password may log onto the same wireless LAN for file sharing.
LAN (Local Area Network)
A network which is accessible only to its members, unlike the Internet which is open to an unlimited number of people.
A LAN may be built for different purposes. For example, you can build an office LAN that is accessible only to members of the same department or a home LAN that is accessible only to family members.
NetBEUI (NetBIOS Extended User Interface)
NetBEUI is part of the transport layer, not the NetBIOS programming interface. NetBEUI cannot be routed, so it is most appropriate in single subnet (continuous) network.
Protocol
The formal specifications that define the procedures for computers to follow when transmitting and receiving data.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)
TCP is a
IP assembles and addresses data packets for transmission to their network destinations.
WAN (Wide Area Network)
A network that interconnects remote LANs through the Internet or telephone lines.
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