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IMPORTANT NOTE
A GLOSSARY PAGE IN A WIKI DOESN\'T MAKE MUCH SENSE, THE WIKI IS THE
GLOSSARY. PLEASE USE WORDLIST [1] OR TITLESEARCH [2] INSTEAD TO GET A
LIST OF TERMS INSTEAD. It is my intention to remove this page once
categories are implemented in RegExpWiki [3]. -- TysonClugg [4]
This is a repository for the technical terms and acronyms which crop
up in all this wireless networking hoo-ha.
Please feel free to add entries, using the "Edit Text of this page"
link at the bottom. Try to them as simple and clear as possible. If
the term you seek is not defined here, please add it to the listing,
and maybe someone will come along and fill it in later. Use blank
lines for spacing between entries.
If you can correct a blatantly mistaken entry, or clarify an
inadequate one, please do so. I will add more as I go.
Other Glossaries:
* http://www.personaltelco.net/index.cgi/CategoryGlossary [5]
* http://www.weca.net/OpenSection/glossary.asp? [6]
Initiated by Clae [7]
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NUMBERS
802.11b [8]: The wireless networking standard chosen for Melbourne
Wireless (chosen, by whom?) (proposed and discussed on the mailing
list)
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A
Airport [9]: Apple's implementation of the 802.11b [10] or WiFi [11]
Standard
AP or Access Point: AP is a dumb device, it's usually made up of the
same card used in client setups with a bit more software to make it
send out "beacon"
packets, this then makes devices act by sending all packets via it...
Ad-hoc mode [12]: Refers to the structure where any node talks
directly to the node it wishs to communicate with, if it can't see it,
it can't talk.
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B
BSS [13] mode: Stands for Basic Service Set. This mode is required to
be provided by any node that is going to be a base station in an
infrastructure based network. (ie node talks to base station, base
station talks to destination node)
Bridge: is a client connection more or less, it talks to an AP or
another bridge (but not in ad-hoc) and links 2 wired networks
together, bridges usually also are able to act as access points, but
not usually simultaneously
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C
Cardbus: the 32-bit improved version of PCMCIA
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D
dB: Decibel - a logarithmic representation of power ratios. See
PowerAndGainToDecibels [14] for more information.
DeCSS [15]: A decryptor for the Content Scrambling System (CSS)
DHCP [16]: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (typically used for
handing out IP details to clients which request them)
DoS [17]: Denial of Service, a lack of network access caused by
flooding a node or path, can be accidental or deliberate (as in DoS
[18] attack)
Downconverter [19]
DSSS [20]: Direct sequence spread spectrum. The form of spread
spectrum used in 802.11b [21]. See also FHSS [22].
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E
EIRP: Effective Isotropic Radiated power - The power of a radio
transmitter multiplied by the total gain of its antenna and feedline.
Wireless networks in Australia are allowed 4 watts EIRP between 2.4
and 2.483.5 GHz
Ethernet: A data-link layer (layer 2 in the OSI model) protocol
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F
FHSS [23]: Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum. Specified as one of the
options in the 802.11 standard, and used by early gear from Proxim,
Breeze, RoamAbout [24], Symbol and others. See also DSSS [25].
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G
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H
HF: High Frequency - Otherwise known as Shortwave. Frequencies
between 3 and 30 MHz, commonly used for shortwave broadcasting, CB and
amateur radio.
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I
IBSS [26] mode: Peer-to-peer mode (more?)
IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. When followed
by a number, refers to a standard adopted by that august body. Hence
WiFI [27] is IEEE standard 802.11b, Firewire is IEEE 1394. Blame them.
IPSEC: Short for IP Security. Designed to securely exchange packets
at the IP layer (OSI layer 3). Involves encryption of the header with
AH or the data with ESP.
ISA: Industry Standard Architecture. An older standard for adding
internal cards to the motherboard of your computer. See also PCI
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J
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K
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L
LAN: Local Area Network
LF: Low Frequency - 30 - 300 kHz.
Linux [28]: An open-source version of Unix (linux is actually not a
version of unix at all. It's a rewrite. "open sourced unix-like
system" is more correct)
LNB [29]
LoS [30]: Line of Sight
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M
MAC [31]: Media Access Control. Includes collision detection (and
usually prevention) techniques. Also, MAC Address usually refers to
the ethernet address present at the MAC layer. Also, MAC, short name
for an Apple Macintosh computer.
MF: Medium Frequency or medium wave - Frequencies between 300 kHz and
300 MHz. Used by AM broadcast stations.
Microwave: Area of radio spectrum from 1.6-30Ghz (the actual extent
changes depending who you listen to.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/ems2.html is one place
where spectrum classes are "reasonable")
(the part of the radio spectrum at which 802.11b [32] devices work,
around the 2.4 gigahertz frequency. Also a way of preparing tasty pot
noodles.)
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N
N-connector: Coaxial cable connector used in many UHF (Ultra High
Frequency) radio applications. Presents a constant 50 ohm charactistic
impedance at frequencies well beyond 1 GHz.
NIC: Network Interface Card.
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O
OSPF [33]: Open Shortest Path First - A scheme for route
auto-discovery & management (loop discovery, deals with redundant
paths, etc etc.)
OpenBSD [34]: Another UNIX-Like Operating System. - Focused on
pro-active security and code auditing.
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P
PCI: Peripheral Component Interconnect. A standard for adding
internal cards to a computer. See also ISA.
PCMCIA: People Can't Memorise Computer Industry Acronyms. Standard
for peripheral cards for laptops and other small devices. A common
form factor for wireless networking adapters.
(actually it stands for Personal Computer Memory Common Interface
Adapter)
PHY [35]: Abbreviation for the Physical layer within the IEEE 802.3
Ethernet specification.
In wired ethernet, it is comprised of a Physical Signaling (PLS)
subsystem, Attachment Unit Interface (AUI) and the Medium Attachment
Unit (MAU).
Examples are 10base-2 (aka thinwire, cheapernet), 10base-T, etc.
Pigtail [36]: connects from the antenna connector on a wireless card
or device to an external antenna. Often converts a manufacturer's
proprietary connector to a more common type. Or may be directly
soldered to a cable. (Also, found near the "output" port of pigs)
PoE [37]: Power over Ethernet
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Q
QoS [38]: Quality of Service
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R
RAN: Regional (or Residential ?) Area Network
RF: Radio Frequency
Router: Could be a dedicated device such as cisco make, or *nix
boxes, and depending on the level of sophistication weather it's
dynamic or static routing... most dynamic routing devices are 3rd
party to the wireless devices, except in the case of a *nix box.
----------
S
SHF: Super High Frequency - Frequencies between 3 and 30 GHz. 802.11a
[39] (5 GHz) wireless networking falls within this region.
Spread Spectrum: A technique for radio transmission of data which
uses significantly more bandwidth than is strictly necessary. Spread
spectrum was developed originally for secure military communications,
but is now used commercially in mobile phones (CDMA) and wireless
networks. Spread spectrum communications is more tolerant of
co-channel interference and multipath effects than traditional
narrownabd communications. Tutorial [40]
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T
TCP/IP: Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol - the suite of
protocols used by the Internet.
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U
UHF: Ultra High Frequency - Frequencies between 300 MHz and 3 GHz.
Used for UHF TV, commercial 2 way radios, UHF CB and 802.11b wireless
networking (2.4-2.83 GHz).
UPN: Universal Public Network
Unix [41]: A multi user, multitasking operating system developed by
Bell Labs around 1970.
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V
VHF: Frequencies between 30 and 300 MHz. Used for commercial 2 way
radio, VHF TV and FM broadcasting.
VPN: Virtual Private Network - technique for creating low cost secure
links using encrypted tunnels over public networks such as the
Internet.
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W
WAN: Wide Area Network
WLAN: Wireless LAN
WiFI [42]: Wireless Industry Forum on Interoperability (?) A standard
to ensure different manufacturer's wireless devices can connect to
each other
Windows: A non-operating system ( ). Actually, a proprietry
operating system produced by Microsoft Corp. Very popular in business
and the mass consumer market, but scorned by many serious computer
tinkerers. Windows is very closed with little documentation of its API
(Application Programming Interface) functions, in contrast to Linux
and the free BSD UNIX systems, which come with documentation and full
source code.
----------
X
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Y
----------
Z
Links:
------
[1] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?WORDLIST
[2] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?TITLESEARCH
[3] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?RegExpWiki
[4] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?TysonClugg
[5] http://www.personaltelco.net/index.cgi/CategoryGlossary
[6] http://www.weca.net/OpenSection/glossary.asp?
[7] mailto:clae13@yahoo.com
[8] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?802.11b
[9] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?AppleAirport
[10] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?802.11b
[11] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?WiFi
[12] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?AdHocMode
[13] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?BSS
[14] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?PowerAndGainToDecibels
[15] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?DeCSS
[16] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?DHCP
[17] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?DoS
[18] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?DoS
[19] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?Downconverter
[20] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?DSSS
[21] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?802.11b
[22] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?FHSS
[23] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?FHSS
[24] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?RoamAbout
[25] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?DSSS
[26] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?IBSS
[27] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?WiFI
[28] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?Linux
[29] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?LNB
[30] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?LoS
[31] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?MAC
[32] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?802.11b
[33] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?OSPF
[34] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?OpenBSD
[35] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?PHY
[36] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?Pigtail
[37] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?PoE
[38] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?QoS
[39] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?802.11a
[40] http://sss-mag.com/ss.html
[41] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?Unix
[42] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?WiFI
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