User's Manual

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IP address (Internet Protocol address)
Each computer that connects to a network or the Internet, must have a unique address. IP
address numbers are in the form x.x.x.x—for example, 169.254.100.2. Most networks use DHCP
or AutoIP to dynamically assign IP addresses. However, a device can be manually assigned a
static IP address.
LAN (Local Area Network)
A high-speed type of computer network that connects devices that are a relatively short
distance from one another. An Ethernet network is one type of LAN.
MAC (Media Access Control) address
A hardware address that uniquely identifies each device on a network. You can usually find the
MAC address printed on the device.
MAC filtering
A method of limiting access to your wireless network by specifying which MAC addresses may
communicate on the network. This setting may be specified on wireless routers or access
points.
Mbps (megabits per second)
The measure for the rate at which a network functions. For example, 1 Mbps equals 1,000,000
bits per second (or 125,000 bytes per second).
Network adapter/card
A device that lets computers or printers talk to each other over a network.
Network name
A network name is an alphanumeric, case-sensitive character string that provides basic access
control to a wireless network. A network name is also known as a Service Set Identifier (SSID).
Node
A network connection point, typically a computer.
Packet
A message sent from one device on a network to other devices on the network.
Peer-to-peer
See Ad-hoc network.
Ping
A test to see if your computer can communicate with another device.
Protocol
A language that devices on a network use to communicate with each other. A popular network
protocol is TCP/IP.
Router
A device that shares a single Internet connection with multiple computers or other devices. The
basic router controls network traffic.
Router
A complex networking device that directs packets from one network to another network. A
router can act as a gateway between a LAN and the Internet.
Security key
A password, such as a WEP key or a WPA pass phrase, used to make a network secure