User manual

NETWORKING BASICS
001-7100-100 Version 0 Page 15 of 66 Vanguard 3G User Manual CDMA Version
3. Networking basics
3.1 General Networking Definitions
The Vanguard 3G cellular modem is based on Ethernet connectivity and follows general IP
networking guidelines and terminology. Below are definitions of some basic network terminology
as they pertain to the Vanguard 3G environment.
Term Definition
Circuit Switched
Data
Circuit Switched Data is the original form of a cellular connection where a radio
channel is dedicated to an active phone and the connection is dropped when
not in use.
DNS Domain Name System: operates like a phone book to translate domain names
(i.e., google.com) to IP addresses (70.212.19.1).
The Vanguard 3G unit functions as the DNS Server in the network.
DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol: the DHCP server assigns IP addresses,
gateway and subnet masks to all clients on the network.
The Vanguard 3G unit functions as a DHCP Server.
Dynamic/Static IP A device with Dynamic IP selected may have a different IP address every time
it connects to the network. A device with a Static IP will always connect with
the same IP address.
Gateway A (node) device enabling data transfer between different networks (i.e., from a
private LAN to a public WAN).
LAN Local Area Network. A private network.
NAT Network Address Translation: A technology that allows hosts on the LAN with
private IP addresses to communicate with public IP addresses on the WAN.
This is an essential function of a network router.
Packet Data Packet Data is used by 3G cellular standards. On a packet data network, users
share a channel and the connection is always on.
Port A special number present in the header of a data packet in the data transfer
process. Ports are typically used to map data to a particular process running on
a computer.
PPP Point-to-point Protocol: creating a direct link between two nodes in network
communication.
Private IP address Private IP addresses are addresses that will not be routed on external
networks. Any device on an internal LAN should be assigned a private IP
address to avoid contention. The suggested private address ranges are
Class A: 10.x.x.x
Class B: 172.16.x.x through 172.31.x.x
Class C: 192.168.x.x
By default the Vanguard 3G radio modem uses the 192.168.1.x address range.
Provisioning The process of activating a unit for the first time on a cellular carrier’s network.
You must have a service contract in place with the carrier prior to provisioning
your device.
RIP Routing Information Protocol, protocol that helps routers dynamically adapt to
changes of network connections by communicating information about which
networks each router can reach and how far away those networks are.
SSID Service Set Identifier. This is a name used to identify a WiFi wireless network.
Subnet A range of addresses assigned to a LAN.
All devices connected in a Vanguard 3G network must be on the same subnet
as the Vanguard 3G radio modems.
Subnet Mask Binary string that separates the subnet portion of an IP address and the host
portion.