| 7 Layer OSI Model | A computer networking model that consists of 7 'layers' that explains and sets rules for how computers in a network communicate with each other. |
| 802.11 | A family of wireless specifications developed by the IEEE (aka: Wi-Fi) |
| 802.11a | A wireless IEEE networking specifications that uses the 5 GHz band and theoretical throughput rates reach a maximum of 54Mbps. |
| 802.11b | A wireless networking specifications that uses the 2.4GHz band and theoretical throughput rates reach a maximum of 11Mbps. |
| 802.11e | A wireless standard that provides Quality of Service support for LANs. This is necessary for delay-sensitive applications such as Voice over Wireless IP and streaming media applications. The standard is under development and isn't expected until 2004. |
| 802.11g | A wireless networking specification that uses the 2.4GHz band and is backward compatible with 802.11b. Standard throughput rates reach up to 54Mbps. Most wireless equipment on the market today uses 802.11g. |
| 802.11i | A draft standard for improving wireless LAN security over 802.11a, 802.11g, and 802.11b networks. It adds new encryption protocols along with WPA security, including Temporal Key Integrity Protocol and Advanced Encryption Standard. |
| 802.11n | The next generation the consumer wireless standards is to be purportedly standardized early 2008. Currently (Q1, 2007) we are utilizing Draft 802.11n, which can reach speeds of up to 350Mbps. Draft 802.11n is backwards compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b, and utilizes the 2.4GHz band. |
| 802.1x | An authentication specification that allows a client to connect to a wireless access point or wired switch but prevents the client from gaining access to the Internet until it provides credentials, such as a user name and password, that are verified by a separate server. In 802.1, there are three roles: the supplicant (client), authenticator (switch or access point), and authentication server. |
| Access Point | An access point is an Ethernet-enabled device that creates a wireless network usually in conjunction with a router to enable wireless users to connect to the network. Generally, an access point cannot distribute IP addresses on it's own, and must be used with a router or gateway. |
| Ad-Hoc | See Peer-to-peer . |
| ADSL | ADSL, or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, is a form of DSL. Downstream rates start at 256kbps and typically reach 9Mbps, while upstream rates start at 64kbps and can go as high as 768kbps. |
| AES | Advanced Encryption Security. Type of security found in wireless communications that is a better security tool than WEP. |
| Analog | The type of signal that is carried over phone lines for communication between two phones. |
| Auto Sensing Ports | A switch with auto sensing ports detects the correct speed (10Mbps or 100Mbps, for example) for the port to be compatible with the device connecting to it. Auto sensing ports allow higher speed devices to run at the higher bandwidth, while lower speed devices run at their lower speed. |
| Bandwidth | A synonym for data transfer rate - the amount of data that can be carried from one point to another in a given time period (usually a second). This kind of bandwidth is usually expressed in bits (of data) per second (bps). Occasionally, it's expressed as bytes per second (Bps). A modem that works at 57,600bps has twice the bandwidth of a modem that works at 28,800bps. |
| Bit | Smallest unit of data recognized by a computer. |
| Bluetooth | A telecommunications industry specification that describes how mobile phones, computers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) can be easily interconnected using a short-range wireless connection. Using this technology, users of cellular phones, pagers, and personal digital assistants can buy a three-in-one phone that can double as a portable phone at home or in the office, get quickly synchronized with information in a desktop or notebook computer, initiate the sending or receiving of a fax, initiate a print-out, and, in general, have all mobile and fixed computer devices completely coordinated. |
| Bridge | Used in wireless networks, hardware that joins two separate networks together. |
| broadband | Refers to high speed Internet connections provided by ISPs, and made possible through cable modem or DSL modem hardware. |
| Broadcast Traffic | Broadcast traffic is information that is sent to every computer on a network. Layer 3 switches reduce broadcast traffic by sending information to the intended recipient. |
| Cable Modem | Converts the cable signal provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) into one that can be used by a computer or computer networking equipment for access to the Internet. |
| Cardbus | A 32-bit interface used to add wireless connectivity or USB connectivity to a notebook PC. |
| CAT5 | Most commonly used type of Ethernet Cable. |
| Client | A client is the requesting program or user in a client/server relationship in communications between computers. For example, the user of a Web browser is effectively making client requests for pages from servers all over the Web. The browser itself is a client in its relationship with the computer that is getting and returning the requested HTML file. The computer handling the request and sending back the HTML file is a server. |
| Dial-Up | Mode of Internet access using a telephone line. Must have an Internet Service Provider such as America Online (AOL™ ). Dial-up connections typically deliver up to 56Kbps maximum speed for downloading files off of the Internet. |
| Digital Castle™ | Term that refers to D-Link's networking products and multimedia products in a typical 'Digital home' of today. |
| D-Link 108G | Proprietary speed used by D-Link wireless network devices. Up to 108Mbps maximum theoretical speed. D-Link has 2 flavors: D-Link 108G and D-Link 108AG |
| DNS | Stands for Domain Name Service. Matches an IP Address to a corresponding easy-to-remember name (i.e. IP Address: 192.168.0.1, Domain Name: www.dlink.com) |
| Download | Refers to the transfer of information from an external source onto a local device, usually a computer. |
| Driver | A set of instructions and software that needs to be downloaded to a computer for certain network devices to work. |
| DSL Modem | Transfers a digital signal using a phone line, providing high speed Internet access. |
| Dualband Technology | Dualband technology enables wireless networking devices to connect with other devices on different frequency bands. In wireless networking, these bands would be the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands |
| Encryption | A method of securing wireless data transfer. Encryption basically scrambles data sent between two wireless devices so that it will be harder for intruders to intercept and hack into the network and steal sensitive information. |
| Ethernet | A network connectivity standard. Up to 10Mbps theoretical transfer rate. |
| Ethernet Adapter | Can also be referred to as a Network Interface Card (NIC). A networking device that is integrated into your computer to add network functionality (Ethernet port). Once the Ethernet Adapter is installed, your computer can connect to a network through Ethernet cabling. |
| Fast Ethernet | A Network connectivity standard. Up to 100Mbps theoretical transfer rate. |
| Firewall | Can be hardware or software based. Firewalls are used on networks to prevent unauthorized users from 'hacking' into the network and accessing sensitive, personal data and information. |
| Firmware | Special software that controls the primary functions of a device. |
| Frequency | Refers to the type of wireless band that a wireless network device operates in. All devices that emit radio waves (i.e. microwaves, telephones, wireless networking products) work in certain frequency bands. In the wireless networking world, the most commonly used frequencies are 2.4GHz and 5GHz. 802.11g and 802.11b wireless network devices operate in the 2.4GHz band, 802.11a devices work in the 5GHz band. |
| Gateway | Another technical term for router, but is now rarely used in the industry. |
| Gigabit | Type of network connectivity standard up to 10/100/1000Mbps theoretical transfer rate. |
| H.323 | H.323 is a protocol that provides audio-visual communication sessions on computer networks. |
| Half vs. Full Duplex | A device that uses half duplex means that data can only travel at one direction at a time. Full duplex systems allow data to travel in both directions simultaneously, which doubles the theoretical performance of a device. |
| Hardware | Refers to the actual physical devices such as a computer or router. |
| Hot Spot | For users of portable computers equipped with wireless connectivity, a hot spot (or hotspot) is a wireless LAN (local area network) location that provides Internet connection and virtual private network (VPN) access. For example, a business traveler with a laptop equipped for Wi-Fi can go to a local hot spot, get connected through its network to reach the Internet, surf the web, and check e-mail, all remotely with a secure connection. Some public places such as airports, hotels, and coffee shops are providing free wireless access for customers. |
| Hub | Acts like an adapter on the network that allows extra devices to be connected to the network. For example attaching a 7-port USB hub to a computer allows an additional 7 USB devices to be connected. |
| i2eye™ | D-Link's family name. Refers to multimedia videoconferencing devices. |
| IEEE | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. An organization responsible for developing standards such as the 802.11 standards for wireless networking. |
| Infrastructure | A mode used in wireless networks where a wireless client connects through a wireless router or access point to communicate on the network. |
| Internet Camera | An advanced, intelligent camera that is connected to the network wirelessly or via Ethernet Cable, has its own web browser and is able to capture video images for viewing over the Internet in remote locations. Not to be confused with a web camera that connects directly to a PC via USB or Firewire cable |
| IP Address | Composed of 4 sets of numbers separated by periods (i.e. 192.169.0.1). This is like an identification tag for a computer or other network device to be recognized on a network. |
| ISP | Internet Service Provider. To connect to the Internet, you must subscribe through an Internet Service Provider and pay a monthly subscription fee, which will grant you access to Hi-Speed Internet services or dial-up services. |
| LAN | Local Area Network. A LAN is a network of computers usually in a smaller area that connects many computer together to communicate on the network. |
| Laptop | See Notebook . |
| Managed Switch | A managed switch allows its ports to be configured, monitored, enabled, and disabled. Important information about your network can be gathered from the switch, including the amount of data that goes through each port, the type of traffic passing through each port, and the number of errors and collisions. |
| Mbps | Megabits per second, a common notation for referring to speed of a network device. |
| MediaLounge™ | D-Link Family Name. Refers to D-Link's Streaming Media Multimedia Family of products that bridges the home entertainment center with the PC network. |
| MGCP | Media Gateway Control Protocol. Aprotocol used within a Voice over IP (VoIP) system. This protocol is a method of converting audio voice into data packets and sending them over the Internet. |
| Modem | A modem translates and converts computer signals for transmission over a telephone or cable line. |
| NAT | Network Address Translation. Type of basic firewall that keeps your private IP addresses on the computers in your network masked from other users on the Internet. This makes it harder for unauthorized users or hackers to get to your personal files and data on your computers. |
| Network | A system of computers that are connected, communicate, and share files with one another. |
| NIC Adapter | Network Interface Card. Provides at least one Ethernet port to connect a desktop PC to a computer network. |
| Non-Blocking Architecture | A switch with “non-blocking” architecture will function at “wire speed.” This means it can handle the maximum amount of traffic possible on every port simultaneously without delay. In comparison, a switch that lacks non-blocking architecture will have its performance reduced if all of its ports are being utilized to their maximum capacity at the same time. |
| Notebook | A battery- or AC-powered personal computer generally smaller than a briefcase that can easily be transported and conveniently used in temporary spaces such as on airplanes, in libraries, temporary offices, and at meetings. A laptop typically weighs less than 5 pounds and is 3 inches or less in thickness. |
| OSI | Open System Interconnect. An acronym that also refers to the 7 Layer OSI Model. See 7 Layer OSI Model |
| PAN | Personal Area Network (PAN). The interconnection of information technology devices within the range of an individual person, typically within a range of 10 meters. For example, a person traveling with a laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a portable printer could interconnect them without having to plug anything in, using some form of wireless technology. Typically, this kind of personal area network could also be interconnected without wires to the Internet or other networks. |
| PCI Adapter | See NIC Adapter. A 32-bit interface designed to add network connectivity or USB connectivity to a desktop PC. |
| Peer-to-peer | A network mode used between for two networked computers to communicate and share files directly with each other without a wireless AP. |
| Plug and Play | Refers to the ability to plug a device into a computer and have the computer automatically recognize the device. In many earlier computer systems, users were required to go through additional configuration steps when a new device is added. |
| Port | A connector slot for network devices, comes in many flavors including, but not limited to Ethernet, USB, Firewire. |
| Port Control | Port control lets you monitor and change certain characteristics of how your switch ports handle traffic. You can determine if you want the port to operate in half or full duplex mode, and you can enable flow control (a congestion control mechanism that prevents data loss at congested ports on the switch). |
| Port Monitoring | The ability to monitor the traffic sent through or received by every port. You can identify port congestion and port failures, as well as detect errors in data traffic. |
| Port Trunking / Link Aggregation | Link Aggregation provides a way to increase bandwidth by combining multiple ports together to function as one large pipe. |
| Public IP | The IP Address that is seen by other users on the Internet. This is the IP Address that is assigned by your ISP to allow your computer to access the Internet. |
| Range | Refers to the distance two network devices can be apart and still communicate wirelessly at the same time without degradation in the wireless signal. |
| Repeater | Network device used to duplicate a signal and repeat it in order to extend the coverage area of a network. |
| RMON | Remote Monitoring (RMON) monitors traffic management and network performance variations. |
| Router | Allows multiple computers to connect to the Internet. Connects to the broadband cable or DSL modem on the network. Can be wired or wireless. |
| Server | A centralized location for storing files, communicates with other devices such as clients on the network. Servers are like databases of information that fulfill requests from clients needing access to server resources and information. |
| SIP | Session Initiation Protocol. Session Initiation Protocol is a standard for Voice over Internet Protocol that provides features that make using a VoIP phone similar to traditional phone service. These are telephone-like operations such as dialing tones, ringing tones, and busy signals. |
| SNMP | SNMP, or Simple Network Management Protocol, allows for the exchange of management information between devices on a network. SNMP support in a switch or other networking device, such as a D-Link’s business-class access point, allows it to be monitored from a management station. |
| Software | Programs that run on computers that will implement a specific type of application. For example, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel are two types of software applications that run on the computer. |
| SPI | Stateful Packet Inspection. A type of basic firewall that protects your network against harmful attacks or unauthorized access to your network based on the type of incoming traffic. |
| SSID | A name for a wireless network. All wireless devices on the network must use the same name in order to wirelessly communicate with each other. |
| Stacking | The ability to connect switches together so that they function as a whole unit. Stacking switches simplifies the management process, improves network performance, and enables network redundancy. |
| Switch | A device that channels incoming data from any of multiple input ports to the specific output port that will take the data toward its intended destination. A switch helps to direct traffic more efficiently in a network and also allows computers to communicate with each other on a network. |
| TCP/IP | A set of computer rules that allow computers to connect and communicate over the Internet. |
| Throughput | Normally is used with bandwidth and speed to indicate how fast a network device is. |
| Traffic Prioritization | This differentiates between critical and non-critical data, which is important when running both voice and data. Traffic prioritization ensures that certain types of traffic, such as VoIP data, gets priority over less important file transfers, such as e-mail. |
| Upgrade | The process of improving a device or system, either through new hardware or software. |
| Upload | Upload refers to the process of transferring files from your computer to an external source (usually the Internet). This includes sending e-mail, sending an instant message, or adding pictures to your personal website. |
| URL | The web page address of a website that is typed into a web browser to direct the browser to a specific page. |
| USB | A Plug and Play connection standard. Every laptop and computer shipping today will have a USB port built in. Very popular for connecting hard drives, web camera, scanners, CD-RWs, printers, mice, flash drives, and other peripherals. |
| VDSL | VDSL (Very high data rate DSL) is an extension to the existing ADSL technology providing data transmission up to a theoretical limit of 52Mbps downstream and 12Mbps upstream over short distances. |
| Videoconferencing | Live communication using audio and video. Real-time dialogue as in a phone call, but with the added element of video so you can see who you are talking to. Primary application in the office for conducting meetings, holding seminars, and having interactive group meetings. Can also be used in the home to make video calls to your family and friends. |
| VLAN Support | A VLAN or (Virtual LAN) is a number of computers that are grouped together. VLANs allow the network to be logically segmented into smaller, more manageable groups virtual groups, while still being physically connected to the same switch. |
| VoIP | Allows voice to work in conjunction with an Ethernet based network. The idea is using a regular phone to make calls using an existing Internet connection. |
| VPN | Virtual Private Network. A dedicated remote connection to any network such as a company/office network for a remote user such as a telecommuter employee. |
| WAN | Wide Area Network. Most common type of WAN is the Internet. Refers to a network of multiple computers over a wide geographic area. |
| WEP | Wired Equivalency Privacy. A standard, most basic type of encryption to protect and secure wireless transmissions through encryption. |
| Wi-Fi | Wireless Fidelity. Refers to Wireless 802.11 Networks |
| Wireless Signal Rate | Refers to wireless speed. See Mbps . |
| WLAN | Stands for Wireless Local Area Network. See LAN |
| WPA | Wi-Fi Protected Access. An improved encryption technology that is more reliable than basic WEP Security providing enhanced security for wireless networks. |
| XR | D-Link’s Extended Range (XR) Technology. Provides increased wireless signal range as well as fewer dead spots. XR technology requires that all devices be XR-enabled to experience wireless coverage in areas where you were previously unable to get reception. |