User Manual

Appendix B - Glossary
ACU
- Atheros Client Utility (ACU) is the utility that allows for configuration of the
Wireless Access
Point Module
Access Point
- An internetworking device that seamlessly connects wired and wireless networks together.
Ad Hoc
- A peer- to-peer wireless network without Access Point. A group of wireless clients consistent an
independent wireless LAN.
Backbone
- The core infrastructure of a network, the portion of the network that transports information from
one central location to another central location. The information is then off-loaded onto a local system.
BSS
- Basic Service Set. An Access Point associated with several wireless stations.
ESS
- Extended Service Set. More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set. An ESS is
basically a roaming domain.
ESSID –
Extended Service Set Identifier. The length of the ESSID information is between 0 and 32 octets. A
0 length identifier indicates the broadcast SSID.
Ethernet
- A popular local area data communications network, originally developed by Xerox Corp., which
accepts transmission from computers and terminals. Ethernet operates on 10/100 Mbps transmission rate
over shielded coaxial cable or over shielded twisted pair telephone wire.
Infrastructure
- An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an infrastructure configuration.
Roaming
- A function that allows one to travel with a mobile end system (wireless LAN mobile station, for
example) through the territory of a domain (an ESS, for example) while continuously connecting to the
infrastructure.
SSID
– Service Set Identifier (SSID) is the network name used by the Wireless LAN. The length of the SSID
information is between 0 and 32 octets.
WEP
–Wired Equivalent Privacy. The optional cryptographic confidentiality algorithm specified by IEEE
802.11 used to provide data confidentiality that is subjectively equivalent to the confidentiality of a wired
local area network (LAN) medium that does not employ cryptographic techniques to enhance privacy.