User's Manual

150
Appendix A:
www.gateway.com
WAN
A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a communications network that spans a relatively large
geographical area, extending over distances greater than one kilometer. A WAN is often
connected through public networks, such as the telephone system. It can also be connected
through leased lines or satellites.
The Internet is essentially a very large WAN.
WDS
A Wireless Distribution System (WDS) allows the creation of a completely wireless
infrastructure.
Typically, an
Access Point is connected to a wired LAN. WDS lets access points be connected
wirelessly. The access points can function as wireless repeaters or bridges.
WEP
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a data encryption protocol for
802.11 wireless networks.
All wireless stations and access points on the network are configured with a static 64-bit
(40-bit secret key + 24-bit initialization vector (IV)) or 128-bit (104-bit secret key + 24-bit
IV) Shared Key for data encryption. It uses a RC4 stream cipher to encrypt the frame body
and CRC of each 802.11 frame before transmission.
Wi-Fi
A test and certification of interoperability for
WLAN products based on the IEEE 802.11
standard promoted by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a non-profit trade organization.
WINS
The Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) is a server process for resolving Windows-based
computer names to IP addresses. It provides information that lets these systems browse
remote networks using the Network Neighborhood.
Wireless Networking Framework
There are two ways of organizing a wireless network:
■ Stations communicate directly with one another in an Ad-hoc Mode network, also
known as an independent basic service set (IBSS).
■ Stations communicate through an Access Point in an Infrastructure Mode network. A
single access point creates an infrastructure basic service set (BSS) whereas multiple
access points are organized in an extended service set (ESS).
WLAN
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a
LAN that uses high-frequency radio waves rather
than wires to communicate between its nodes.