Dell 2300 Wireless Broadband Router - Manual (Page 26)

Network Adapter:
A network adapter is a device expansion card that provides the physical connection between a computer and the network.
There are many types of adapters. They include PC cards for laptops, a card that fits into a slot on your computer, just like you
install a sound card or modem card, and embedded cards, embedded USB adapters, USB dongle adapters, and USB desktop
adapters. Some newer computers have a network adapter already built into the system. PC cards or cards that fit into a slot in
the desktop are sometimes referred to as network interface cards, or NICs.
Network Address Translation (NAT):
NAT occurs when multiple IP addresses on a private LAN are converted to one public address. This public address is sent out
to the Internet. NAT adds a level of security because the IP address for a PC connected to the private LAN is never
transmitted to the Internet. NAT also allows xDSL/cable routers to be used with low-cost Internet accounts, where only one
TCP/IP address is provided by the Internet service provider. The user may have many private addresses masked by the single
address provided by the ISP. NAT prevents denial of service (DoS) from external networks on internal hosts.
Network Name (SSID):
Access points are grouped together by an identifier called an ESSID. The ESSID is also referred to as a Net ID. This identifier
is a combination of any letters or numbers that are appropriate for the network environment. ESSID is specifically for access
points. When you talk about peer-to-peer networks, you cannot use the term ESSID.
Service Set Identifier (SSID) is more generic and is a 32-character name that uniquely identifies all the computers and
equipments that make up a wireless network. A type of SSID is ESSID. Another type of SSID is Basic Service Set Identifier
(BSSID). The BSSID is the
MAC address of a wireless adapter or access point.
Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE):
PPPoE is the methodology of authenticating or validating a user or equipment to an Internet service provider, usually via a
username and/or password. It is a selection or action that reconfigures a device to the default parameters, as it was originally
manufactured.
Port:
A port is a connector on a networking device, used to attach the network cable. Hubs and switches have numerous ports that
connect to computers on the network.
Protocol:
Protocol refers to a set of rules for sending and receiving information on a network. The rules determine the format of the data
that is transmitted and other aspects of networking, such as how errors are detected and corrected. The protocol driver in each
computer is software that adheres to these rules when sending and receiving information. These drivers are also often called
protocols.
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP):
TCP/IP refers to the protocol that computers use to communicate over the Internet. TCP determines how a computer breaks up