Specifications

Glossary 921
Network name*
Identifies the wireless network for all the shared components. During the
installation process for most wireless networks, you need to enter the
network name or SSID. Different network names are used when setting up
your individual computer, wired network or workgroup.
NIC*
A type of PC adapter card that either works without wires (Wi-Fi) or attaches
to a network cable to provide two-way communication between the computer
and network devices such as a hub or switch. Most office wired NICs operate
at 10 Mbps (Ethernet), 100 Mbps (Fast Ethernet) or 10/100 Mbps dual speed.
High-speed Gigabit and 10 Gigabit NIC cards are also available. See PC Card.
PC card*
A removable, credit-card-sized memory or I/O device that fits into a Type 2
PCMCIA standard slot, PC Cards are used primarily in PCs, portable
computers, PDAs and laptops. PC Card peripherals include Wi-Fi cards,
memory cards, modems, NICs, hard drives, etc.
PCI*
A high-performance I/O computer bus used internally on most computers.
Other bus types include ISA and AGP. PCIs and other computer buses enable
the addition of internal cards that provide services and features not supported
by the motherboard or other connectors.
PEAP
(Protected EAP) is an authentication protocol that uses TLS to enhance the
security of other EAP authentication methods. PEAP for Microsoft 802.1X
Authentication Client provides support for EAP-TLS, which uses certificates
for both server authentication and client authentication, and Microsoft
Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol version 2 (EAP-MS-CHAP v2),
which uses certificates for server authentication and password-based
credentials for client authentication.
PHY*
The lowest layer within the OSI Network Model. It deals primarily with
transmission of the raw bit stream over the PHYsical transport medium. In the
case of wireless LANs, the transport medium is free space. The PHY defines
parameters such as data rates, modulation method, signalling parameters,
transmitter/receiver synchronization, etc. Within an actual radio
implementation, the PHY corresponds to the radio front end and baseband
signal processing sections.