Owner`s manual

198
network keys (Also known as encryption keys.) 64-bit and 128-bit encryption
keys used in WEP wireless security schemes. The keys encrypt
data over the WLAN, and only wireless PCs configured with
WEP keys that correspond to the keys configured on the device
can send/receive encrypted data.
network mask A network mask is a sequence of bits applied to an IP
address to select the network ID while ignoring the host ID.
Bits set to 1 mean "select this bit" while bits set to 0 mean
"ignore this bit." For example, if the network mask
255.255.255.0 is applied to the IP address 100.10.50.1, the
network ID is 100.10.50, and the host ID is 1. See binary, IP
address, subnet.
NIC Network Interface Card
An adapter card that plugs into your computer and provides
the physical interface to your network cabling. For Ethernet
NICs this is typically an RJ-45 connector. See Ethernet, RJ-
45.
packet Data transmitted on a network consists of packets. Each
packet contains a payload (the data), plus overhead
information such as where it came from (source address)
and where it should go (destination address).
pass phrase A secret password used in WPA wireless data encryption.
Encryption is based on a WPA master key that is derived from
the pass phrase and the network name (SSID) of the device.
The pass phrase should be at least 20 characters long in order
to deter a hacker attempting to crack the pass phrase by
recording a series of frames then trying commonly used
passwords offline until one works (known as offline PSK
dictionary attacks).
ping Packet Internet (or Inter-Network) Groper
A program used to verify whether the host associated with an
IP address is online. It can also be used to reveal the IP
address for a given domain name.
port A physical access point to a device such as a computer or
router, through which data flows into and out of the device.
PPP Point-to-Point Protocol
A protocol for serial data transmission that is used to carry IP
(and other protocol) data between your ISP and your
computer. The WAN interface on the Commander Pulse uses
two forms of PPP called PPPoA and PPPoE. See PPPoA,
PPPoE.
PPPoA Point-to-Point Protocol over ATM
One of the two types of PPP interfaces you can define for a
Virtual Circuit (VC), the other type being PPPoE. You can
define only one PPPoA interface per VC.
PPPoE Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet
One of the two types of PPP interfaces you can define for a
Virtual Circuit (VC), the other type being PPPoA. You can
define one or more PPPoE interfaces per VC.
protocol A set of rules governing the transmission of data. In order for
a data transmission to work, both ends of the connection
have to follow the rules of the protocol.