Wireless Network Glossary-Part5

IP address
IP (Internet Protocol) is a layer-3 network protocol that is the basis of all Internet communication. An IP address is 32-bit number that identifies each sender or receiver of information that is sent across the Internet. An IP address has two parts: an identifier of a particular network on the Internet and an identifier of the particular device (which can be a server or a workstation) within that network. The new IPv6 specification supports 128-bit IP address format.



IPsec
IP Security. A set of protocols developed by the IETF to support secure exchange of packets at the IP layer. IPsec has been deployed widely to implement Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). IPsec supports two encryption modes: Transport and Tunnel. Transport mode encrypts only the data of each packet, but leaves the header untouched. The more secure Tunnel mode encrypts both the header and the payload. On the receiving side, an IPSec-compliant device decrypts each packet.

LACP (802.3ad) Trunking
The 802.3ad Link Aggregation standard defines how to combine the several Ethernet ports into one high-bandwidth port to increase the transmission speed. It is also known as port trunking. Both device must set the trunking feature to work.


MAC
Media Access Control. MAC address provides layer-2 identification for Networking Devices.
Each Ethernet device has its own unique address. The first 6 digits are unique for each manufacturer. When a network device have MAC access control feature, only the devices with the approved MAC address can connect with the network.

Mbps
Megabits Per Second. One million bits per second; a unit of measurement for data transmission.

MESH
Mesh is an outdoor wireless technology that uses Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and Wireless Distribution system to achieve self-forming, self-healing, and self-configuring outdoor network. MESH network are able to take the shortest path to a destination that does not have to be in the line of site.


MIMO
Multi In Multi Out. A Smart Antenna technology designed to increase the coverage and performance of a WLAN network. In a MIMO device, 2 or more antennas are used to increase the receiver sensitivity and to focus available power at intended Rx.


NAT
Network Address Translation. A network algorithm used by Routers to enables several PCs to share single IP address provided by the ISP. The IP that a router gets from the ISP side is called Real IP, the IP assigned to PC under the NAT environment is called Private IP.

Node
A network connection end point, typically a computer.

Packet
A unit of data sent over a network.

Passphrase
Used much like a password, a passphrase simplifies the WEP encryption process by automatically generating the WEP encryption keys for the company products.