Owner's Manual

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Glossary: Dell™ Wireless WLAN Card User's Guide
A B C D E F G H I L M N O P Q R S T U W
A
access point (AP) A stand-alone wireless hub that allows any computer that has a wireless network
adapter to communicate with another computer and to connect to the Internet. An
access point has at least one interface that connects it to an existing wired
network. See also
wireless router/AP.
ad hoc network In ad hoc mode,
wireless clients communicate directly with each other without the
use of a
wireless router/AP. Also known as a peer-to-peer network or a computer-
to-computer network.
advanced network An infrastructure network that uses some form of EAP authentication.
AES Advanced Encryption Standard An additional replacement for WEP encryption.
associated The state when a
wireless client adapter has made a connection with a chosen
wireless router/AP.
association The process by which a
wireless client negotiates the use of a logical port with the
chosen
wireless router/AP.
authenticated provisioning A
provisioning mode supported by EAP-FAST Extensible Authentication Protocol in
which provisioning is done inside a server-authenticated (TLS) tunnel.
authentication The process whereby pre-approved wireless clients may join a collision domain.
Authentication occurs before association.
available network 1. A broadcasting network that is within range.
2. Any of the networks listed under Available networks on the Wireless
Networks tab of Windows Wireless Network Connection Properties. All
broadcasting wireless networks (both infrastructure and ad hoc) that are
within receiving range of the wireless client are listed. Any wireless network
that you are already connected to is also listed as an available network,
even if it is not broadcasting.
B
base station A stand-alone wireless hub that allows any computer that has a wireless network
adapter to communicate with another computer and to connect to the Internet. A
base station is usually referred to as an access point (AP). See also
access point
and wireless router/AP.
basic network 1. An
infrastructure network that has any of the following security settings:
WPA-PSK authentication
WEP (open or shared authentication)
None
2. An
ad hoc network that has either WEP security settings or no security
settings.
BER bit error rate. The ratio of errors to the total number of bits being sent in a data
transmission from one location to another.
broadcasting network A network that is broadcasting its network name.
C
CA Certification Authority An entity responsible for establishing and vouching for the
authenticity of public keys belonging to users (end entities) or other certification
authorities. Activities of a certification authority can include binding public keys to