Glossary

ADSL – Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A Broadband connection that works over an existing Phone line but still leaves it available for normal use.

Adware -  These are hidden scripts within software (usually freeware) that report statistics back to the authors if they can get an Internet Connection. Most software writers that use this form of funding for their work are quite open about it which is fair enough. I detest the ones that try to cover it up though’.

BSOD - Blue Screen Of Death! An interesting "feature" of Windows when it can't cope anymore... e.g. Fatal Exception Error. Bla Bla Bla...

Cable Internet – A broadband connection over the cable TV (Foxtel or Optus) network.

Client – The client/s are the computer/s that get their Internet connection from the server.

DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. Or “Obtain IP address automatically” in your TCP/IP properties.

Dynamic IP address – A NIC assigned to “Obtain IP address automatically”

Hijacking – This is the term used to describe the activities of hackers when they hack your computer and use it as a “jump station” to continue their activities. The reason they do this is because a trace of their activities will lead back to the hijacked computer and not them (unless the tracer is particularly skilled and prudent)

HUB - A device which joins a stack of Computers together to become a Local Area Network.

ICS – Internet Connection Sharing. A standard feature of Windows 98SE, Windows Millennium and Windows 2000 that allows a Network of PCs to share an Internet Connection.

IP - Acronym for Internet Protocol address.  A 32-bit binary number that uniquely identified a host (computer) connected to the Internet.  An IP address is expressed in “dotted quad” format, separated with periods.  For example, 192.168.0.1.
To Find your IP address:-
Windows 95 / ME: Click Start > Run > winipcfg <enter>
Windows 2000/XP: Click Start > Run > CMD <enter> > ipconfig <enter>
Note if you are behind a Server or Router, this will only give you your private IP address . (If you're directly connected to the Broadband modem this will work fine)
If you are behind a Server or Router, to find your public IP address use one of the on-lin tools like http://checkip.dyndns.org

LAN – Local Area Network. All your computers that are networked together to share files and/or an Internet connection.

Mac Address - A unique identifying tag on every interface (Network Card, Dial-up adaptor etc) that connects to a Computer Network or the World Wide Web.
To find your Mac address :-
Windows 95 - ME: Click Start > Run > winipcfg <enter> > More info
Windows 2000/XP: Click Start > Run > CMD <enter> > ipconfig/all

MIMO - Multiple Input Multiple Output. Wireless technology characterised by 3 or more antennas. See the Wireless FAQ for more.

MSS – Maximum Segment Size. Similar to MTU but to do with shared traffic using ICS

MTU - The maximum transmission unit is a link layer restriction on the maximum number of bytes of data in a single transmission (i.e. frame, cell, packet, depending on the terminology). Tweaking the MTU layer often become necessary using some NAT (Internet Sharing) applications on ADSL.

NAT - Network Address Translation. This is a common form of Internet Connection Sharing where all the PCs on a Network share the Internet behind the one IP address supplied by the ISP. NAT also provides a level of security which, although a bonus, has caused much confusion where people need to allow various services to get through that security. Games, chat programs and internal server programs like PCAnywhere.

NIC - A device that connects your computer to a network. This device is sometimes called an adapter card or network interface card (NIC). It could also be a USB device like the SMC brand one that Telstra often provides.

Passthrough – Passthrough refers to VPNs and other applications traversing the NAT barrier present in routers and internet sharing/security applications. See FAQ 2.10 in the Router FAQ for more.

Ping – This is a useful networking tool to see if one computer sees another using TCP/IP. Similar in concept to a Submarine Ping, a small amount (packet) of data is sent from one PC to another and back again and the time it takes is reported in milliseconds. This can be used on a LAN or across the Internet. To use it, go to start > run > type “command” and “ok”. Then in the command prompt window, type “ping” space whatever and enter.
e.g. ping 192.168.01

Protocol – A language used by computers to “talk” to each other.

Proxy Server - A form of Internet Connection Sharing where one PC acts as "proxy" (stands in) and allows other PCs on a Network to use it's Internet Connection. Most Proxy Software allows advanced features like logging and rules to be applied.

QoS - Quality of Service. An ability (usually when talking about Routers) to give priority to particular types of Internet Traffic. eg VoIP where you don't want the bandwidth being chewed up by another application which might adversely affect the phone call quality.

Router - A device which will log on to an ISP and share the Internet Connection to a Computer or Computer Network, whilst providing a high level of Security at the same time. Routers are an excellent, low cost, foolproof solution for all types of businesses and Computer Networks as they don't rely on any particular computer being switched on and can be secured from prying eyes within your network. They come in all shapes and sizes to suit many different applications, including wireless networking.
I have an unshameful bias towards Netgear Routers as they are a quality product with a simple interface at a surprisingly low cost. See the hardware page to find out more about Routers.

Server – When talking about ICS, the server is the computer that connects to the Internet first and then shares its connection.

SP2 - Service Pack Two. Microsoft releases updates for Windows with bug fixes and security patches as necessary, and every now and then they bundle all of the updates together along with a string of other improvements and release it as a Service Pack. It is generally recommended to avoid Beta versions of these Service Packs on business computers but once they make it to final release it's definitely worth downloading them and updating.

SSID - Service Set Identifier. Also known as BSSID and ESSID depending on what particular Network subset it is identifying. See the Wireless FAQ for more.

Static IP Address – A physically assigned IP address that you assign to the TCP/IP on a NIC.

Subnet Mask - Subnet masks are 32-bit values that enable the recipient of IP packets to distinguish the network ID and host ID portions of the IP address. Typically, subnet masks use the format 255.x.x.x.

Switching Hub or Switch - like a hub, but with more advanced features to allow data on a Network to be transferred at maximum efficiency.

TCP/IP - An acronym for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, a protocol developed by the Department of Defense for communications between computers. It is built into the UNIX system and has become the de facto standard for data transmission over networks, including the Internet.

Trojan – Like a virus but usually not destructive. They sit hidden in your PC and open a port to allow unauthorized access from hackers. If you get sub-seven port scans, that is what the scanner is looking for. Some Trojans are active and will try to access the Internet to advertise their presence.

Tweaking – Changing registry values in windows from the defaults to optimize performance.

uPnP - Universal Plug and Play. New Internet Networking technology built into Windows ME & XP that basically allows home PCs to interconnect with smart appliances, security devices and such. I believe uPnP holds the key to the next generation of Internet usage and associated gadgetry. MSN Messenger already uses the technology in File transfers and voice chat. Although often criticised for potential security risks, I expect to see the technology incorporated into more and more applications over the next few years.

USB – Universal Serial Bus. An external interface for attaching some devices like web cams, scanners etc

VPN - Virtual Private Network. A secure way of connecting to a remote network (the office) over the Internet.

WAN - Wide Area Network. ie. The Internet. (Everything outside your LAN). "WAN" is commonly used with routers to describe the port that the Broadband Modem plugs into.

Warez – Pirated software. There are numerous websites that deal in this. Also known as Gamez/Moviez etc.

WEP - Wireless Equivalent Privacy. One of the available methods of securing a wireless network. See the Wireless FAQ for more.

Win2K – Windows 2000

Winipcfg – in windows95 – ME, click start > run > type “winipcfg” > enter. Use the pull down menu to display the network card connected to the cable modem. Clicking release and renew will show that the modem is able to get an IP address from BigPond. If it times out there is a problem. Check that the link light is displayed on the modem. If not, the modem , NIC, link cable or BigPond Network may be faulty.

In NT or win2K, click start > run > type “CMD” enter. Type IPCONFIG. Then you can release and renew by typing IPCONFIG/RELEASE or IPCONFIG/RENEW.

WPA - Wi-Fi protected access. An encryption method used to secure a Wireless Network. Also known as WPA-PSK (Pre-Shared Key). WPA-PSK is a simpler version of WPA with the smaller Network in mind as WPA requires the use of a "Radius Server" which is only available on Server type Operating Systems.