Professional Access Point
Administrator Guide
Glossary - 321
W
WAN
A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a communications network that spans a relatively large geographical area,
extending over distances greater than one kilometer. A WAN is often connected through public networks,
such as the telephone system. It can also be connected through leased lines or satellites.
The Internet is essentially a very large WAN.
WDS
A Wireless Distribution System (WDS) allows the creation of a completely wireless infrastructure. Typically,
an Access Point is connected to a wired LAN. WDS allows access points to be connected wirelessly. The
access points can function as wireless repeaters or bridges.
WEP
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a data encryption protocol for 802.11 wireless networks. All wireless
stations and access points on the network are configured with a static 64-bit (40-bit secret key + 24-bit
initialization vector (IV)) or 128-bit (104-bit secret key + 24-bit IV) Shared Key for data encryption. It uses a
RC4 stream cipher to encrypt the frame body and CRC of each 802.11 frame before transmission.
Wi-Fi
A test and certification of interoperability for WLAN products based on the IEEE 802.11 standard promoted
by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a non-profit trade organization.
WINS
The Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) is a server process for resolving Windows-based computer
names to IP addresses. It provides information that allows these systems to browse remote networks using
the Network Neighborhood.
Wireless Networking Framework
There are two ways of organizing a wireless network:
• Stations communicate directly with one another in an Ad-hoc Mode network, also known as an inde-
pendent basic service set (IBSS).
• Stations communicate through an Access Point in an Infrastructure Mode network. A single access
point creates an infrastructure basic service set (BSS) whereas multiple access points are organized in
an extended service set (ESS).
WLAN
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a LAN that uses high-frequency radio waves rather than wires to
communicate between its nodes.
