Networking Terms¶
Terms A-Z: Click to check the definition.
Index A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
[ A ]
Access Filter
Allows or blocks specific devices from the internet based on a schedule, MAC address, or IP.
AC-Name
The name of the PPPoE Access Concentrator, used by clients to identify and connect to a specific PPPoE server.
ACS
(Auto Configuration Server) A server used in TR-069 architecture to remotely configure, manage, and monitor customer-premises equipment.
ACS URL
The web address of the ISP's Auto-Configuration Server used for remote management commands.
AFTR
(Address Family Transition Router) A carrier-grade router that terminates DS-Lite tunnels and performs IPv4 traffic processing.
Aggregation
A wireless optimization technique that combines multiple frames into a single transmission to improve throughput efficiency.
Alternate DNS
The secondary/backup DNS server used if the primary server is unavailable.
ARP Table
A table that stores mappings between IP addresses and MAC addresses for local network communication.
Auto Update
A feature that allows the router to automatically check for and install the latest firmware during low-traffic periods.
[ B ]
Band
The specific radio frequency range, such as 2.4GHz, 5GHz, or 6GHz, used for wireless communication.
Beacon Interval
The time interval at which a wireless access point broadcasts beacon frames to announce the presence of a WLAN.
Bias Current
The electrical current applied to the laser diode in an optical module, indicating operational status.
BOSA Temperature
The operating temperature of the Bidirectional Optical Sub-Assembly used for optical diagnostics.
Broadcast
A transmission method that sends data packets to all devices within the same network segment.
Bridged Ethernet (Transparent Bridging)
A mode that forwards Ethernet frames directly between WAN and LAN interfaces without routing.
Bridged Mode
A network operation mode where the device passes traffic transparently without NAT or routing.
Bridged PPPoE
A mode that allows PPPoE packets to pass through the device without termination.
BSSID
The unique MAC address of the specific wireless radio interface on the access point.
[ C ]
Channel
The specific frequency within a band used by the router to avoid overlap with neighboring networks.
Channel Width
Determines the frequency range used for transmission (20/40/80/160MHz). Wider channels offer more speed but higher interference.
CHAP
A secure authentication protocol using a challenge-response mechanism to verify user credentials.
Client
A mode in which the device connects to an existing wireless network as a client, allowing wired devices to access the wireless network via the router.
Client Access
Permissions that define whether a VPN client can access just the Internet or also devices on the local network (LAN).
CoA Port
Change of Authorization port; used by the server to dynamically disconnect users or update their permissions.
Custom DNS
Allows the user to specify preferred DNS providers (like Google or Cloudflare) instead of using the ISP's defaults.
[ D ]
DDNS
(Dynamic DNS) Maps a static domain name to a changing public IP address, allowing remote access to your network.
Default Gateway
The IP address of the router or node that serves as an access point to another network or the internet.
DHCP
A method where the ISP's server automatically assigns an IP address to your router upon connection.
DHCP Server
(Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Server) A network service that dynamically assigns IP addresses and configuration parameters to clients using a lease-based allocation mechanism.
DHCP Relay
A feature that forwards DHCP requests between clients and an upstream DHCP server.
DMZ
(Demilitarized Zone) Exposes one internal host to all incoming internet traffic, useful for specialized servers or gaming issues.
DoS Protection
Defends the network against Denial of Service attacks intended to overwhelm the router's resources.
Domain Blocking
A security feature that blocks access to specified domain names.
Domain Name
The DNS domain name assigned to devices within a local network.
DSCP Remarking
The process of modifying DSCP values in IP packets to enforce Quality of Service policies.
DS-Lite
(Dual-Stack Lite) A transition technology that enables IPv4 connectivity over an IPv6-only access network.
DTIM Period
Specifies how often multicast and broadcast data are delivered to wireless clients in power-saving mode.
[ E ]
EasyMesh Network Topology
A standardized mesh networking architecture enabling interoperable multi-node Wi-Fi systems.
Encryption
The security protocol (e.g., WPA2, WPA3) used to protect wireless data from unauthorized access.
Endpoint Host
The public IP address or Domain Name of the remote VPN server you are attempting to reach.
Endpoint Port / Listen Port
The specific communication port used by the VPN tunnel to send and receive encrypted data.
[ F ]
Firewall
A security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined rules.
Firmware Version
The specific software build number currently running on the router's operating system.
FQDN
(Fully Qualified Domain Name) A complete domain name that uniquely identifies a host on the Internet.
Fragment Threshold
Defines the maximum frame size before wireless packets are fragmented.
FTP / TFTP ALG
Assists File Transfer Protocols in managing separate control and data connections through NAT.
[ G ]
Gateway
The node that acts as the entrance and exit point for encrypted VPN traffic.
Guest Network
A secondary Wi-Fi signal for visitors that provides internet access while keeping your main LAN invisible.
[ H ]
H323 / SIP ALG
Ensures VoIP (Internet calling) traffic can navigate the firewall without audio or connection issues.
Hardware
The physical version/revision of the router's internal circuit board and components.
Hidden Network
Disables the broadcasting of the SSID, requiring users to manually enter the network name to connect.
HTTPS Only
Enforces encrypted communication when accessing the router's management interface.
[ I ]
IEEE 802.1d Spanning Tree
A protocol that prevents Ethernet loops by dynamically managing network topology.
IEEE 802.1p Mark
A Layer 2 priority marking used for traffic classification.
IEEE 802.11a
A Wi-Fi standard operating in the 5 GHz band with data rates up to 54 Mbps.
IEEE 802.11k Support
A feature that provides radio resource measurements to assist wireless roaming.
IEEE 802.11n
A Wi-Fi standard supporting MIMO technology for higher throughput.
IGMP
Used for managing multicast traffic, essential for the smooth operation of IPTV services.
IGMP Proxy
A function that manages IPv4 multicast traffic between WAN and LAN interfaces.
IGMP Robust Count
The number of times IGMP messages are retransmitted to improve multicast reliability.
Incoming Default Action
Defines the default firewall behavior for inbound traffic.
Internet
The logical interface representing the router’s upstream connection to a public network, typically an ISP, responsible for IP address acquisition, routing, and default gateway assignment.
IP Address
A unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol.
IP/MAC Binding
Hard-links an IP address to a specific hardware MAC address to prevent IP conflicts and ARP spoofing.
IPSec / L2TP / PPTP Pass-through
Features that allow specific VPN traffic types to pass through the router's NAT firewall successfully.
IPTV / VLAN
Settings used to separate digital TV signals from standard data traffic using virtual network tags.
IPv6
(Internet Protocol Version 6) A network-layer protocol designed to replace IPv4, providing a vastly expanded address space, simplified header structure, and native support for auto-configuration.
IPoE Mode
A WAN connection mode that obtains an IP address via DHCP without PPP encapsulation.
IP Pool Range
The range of IP addresses available for assignment by a DHCP server.
IP QoS
A mechanism that prioritizes IP traffic based on defined policies.
IP Unnumbered
Allows an interface to borrow an IP address from another interface.
IPv6 Link-Local Address
An IPv6 address automatically generated for communication within the local network link.
[ L ]
L2TP
Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol; a protocol used to support VPNs or for specific ISP connection methods.
LAN
(Local Area Network) A private network segment managed by the router, providing internal IP addressing, switching, and local traffic forwarding among connected devices.
Lease time
The duration for which a guest user is authorized to use the network after a successful portal login.
Local / Remote Management
Controls whether the router settings can be accessed only from home or also via the Internet.
Local Update
Manually uploading a firmware file from a computer to the router's management interface.
LOID
(Logical ONU Identifier) An identifier used to authenticate an ONU during GPON registration.
[ M ]
MAC Filter
Security controls that block or allow traffic based on hardware addresses.
MAC Clone
Allows the router to mimic the hardware MAC address of a specific computer to bypass ISP device-binding restrictions.
Max Stations
The maximum number of wireless client devices allowed to associate with the Access Point simultaneously.
Mesh
A distributed wireless network topology in which multiple nodes cooperatively route traffic, enabling self-healing paths, centralized control, and seamless client roaming.
Metric
A routing priority value used to determine the preferred network path.
MLO Network
Multi-Link Operation (Wi-Fi 7); enables simultaneous data transmission across multiple frequency bands for lower latency.
MLD Proxy
A feature that manages IPv6 multicast traffic between WAN and LAN.
MPPE Encryption
Microsoft Point-to-Point Encryption; a method used to secure data packets over PPTP VPN connections.
MS-CHAP
A Microsoft-enhanced authentication protocol based on CHAP.
MTU
Maximum Transmission Unit; the largest size of a data packet (in bytes) that can be transmitted in a single network transaction.
Multicast to Unicast
Converts multicast streams into unicast transmissions for improved Wi-Fi performance.
Multicast VLAN ID
A dedicated VLAN ID used to carry multicast traffic such as IPTV services.
[ N ]
NAPT
(Network Address and Port Translation) Translates multiple private IP addresses to a single public IP using port mapping.
[ O ]
Online Detection
The mechanism (Ping or DNS) the router uses to monitor and verify its active internet connection status.
Online Update
Fetching and installing the latest firmware directly from the manufacturer's cloud server.
ONU
(Optical Network Unit) A device that terminates the optical signal and provides user network access.
ONU ID
A unique identifier assigned by the OLT to distinguish ONUs.
Outgoing Default Action
Defines the default firewall behavior for outbound traffic.
[ P ]
PAP
A basic authentication protocol that transmits credentials in plaintext.
PING / TRACEROUTE / NSLOOKUP
Standard diagnostic tools to test connectivity, trace packet paths, and query DNS records.
Port Forwards
Directs incoming internet traffic on specific ports to a designated device within your private network.
Port Trigger
A dynamic form of port forwarding where ports are opened only when internal traffic triggers them.
PPP
(Point-to-Point Protocol) A protocol used for authentication and IP address assignment.
PPPoE
Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet; a network protocol commonly used by ISPs to manage user connections via login credentials.
PPTP
Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol; a legacy method for implementing virtual private networks over IP.
Preferred DNS
The primary Domain Name System server used to resolve human-readable domain names into IP addresses.
Pre-shared Key
A security string shared between the server and client beforehand to verify identity before encryption.
Protocol
A standardized set of rules that govern how data is formatted, transmitted, and received between different devices across a network.
Preamble Type
Defines the synchronization header format used in wireless transmissions.
PSC
(Preferred Scanning Channels) A Wi-Fi 6E/7 feature on the 6GHz band that helps client devices find and connect to the network faster.
[ Q ]
QoS
(Quality of Service) Prioritizes specific types of traffic (like gaming or VoIP) to ensure smooth performance during congestion.
QoS Bandwidth
Specifies guaranteed or maximum bandwidth allocation for traffic flows.
Query Interval
The time interval between multicast query messages.
[ R ]
RADIUS NAS ID
The Network Access Server Identifier used to identify the router to a central RADIUS authentication server.
Request DNS
Requests DNS server information automatically from the ISP.
Respond to PING
Determines if the router will acknowledge "ping" requests from the internet (disabling this increases privacy).
RTSP ALG
Real Time Streaming Protocol ALG; manages media streams for applications like IP security cameras.
RTS Threshold
Defines the frame size at which RTS/CTS handshaking is triggered.
Rx Power
The received optical signal power level at the ONU.
[ S ]
Separate Clients
Also known as AP Isolation; prevents wireless clients from communicating with each other for enhanced security.
Service Port
The logical port number on the router that listens for incoming VPN connection requests.
Service-Name
Specifies the requested PPPoE service name.
Short GI
A shortened guard interval that increases Wi-Fi data rates.
Site-to-Site
A VPN tunnel that connects two entire network locations (e.g., office to home) into one logical network.
SLAAC
(Stateless DHCPv6) Allows IPv6 address configuration using router advertisements.
SPI Firewall
Stateful Packet Inspection; a technology that tracks active connections to block unsolicited or malicious incoming data.
SSID
Service Set Identifier; the human-readable name of the wireless network that appears during scanning.
Static(Fixed IP)
A manually configured IP address that remains constant and does not change automatically.
Static Routing
A manually configured fixed path that tells the router exactly which interface to use to reach a specific destination.
Stateful DHCPv6
Assigns IPv6 addresses and parameters via a DHCPv6 server.
STUN
Session Traversal Utilities for NAT; helps the router discover its public IP for remote management.
Subnet Mask
A 32-bit number used to define the boundaries of a network segment, separating the network ID from the host ID.
System Log
A chronological record of system operations, errors, and security events for troubleshooting.
System Time / Timezone / NTP
Ensures the router's internal clock is accurate for logs, schedules, and security certificates.
[ T ]
TR069 / TR098 / TR181
Technical standards allowing ISPs to remotely manage, configure, and troubleshoot the router.
Timed Reboot
A maintenance feature that restarts the router at a scheduled time to maintain system stability.
Transmit Power
The strength of the radio signal emitted by the router's antennas; can be adjusted to balance coverage and interference.
TTL
(Time to Live) A value in an IP packet that limits its lifespan to prevent it from circulating indefinitely in the network.
Tunnel Secret
A specific alphanumeric password used to authenticate the establishment of a secure tunnel.
TX Beamforming
A wireless technology that directs signals toward specific clients.
TX Restrict
Limits the maximum wireless transmission power.
Tx Power
The transmitted optical signal power level from the ONU.
[ U ]
UDP / TCP
Transport protocols for VPN data; UDP is generally faster for streaming, while TCP is more reliable for file transfers.
UPnP
(Universal Plug and Play) Allows network devices to seamlessly discover each other and automatically configure port forwarding.
Upstream DHCP Server
A DHCP server located on the WAN side of the network.
[ V ]
VLAN ID
A numerical identifier used to distinguish virtual LANs.
VPN
(Virtual Private Network) A logical, encrypted tunnel that encapsulates IP traffic over a public or untrusted network, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and authentication.
VPN Policy
Rules that determine which specific traffic or devices should be routed through the VPN tunnel.
VPN Protocol
The set of rules (e.g., WireGuard, OpenVPN) used to negotiate encryption, authentication, and tunneling.
VPN Subnet
The internal IP address range assigned to remote clients when they successfully connect to the VPN server.
[ W ]
Wake on LAN
A standard that allows a computer to be turned on or awakened by a "Magic Packet" sent from the router.
WAN
(Wide Area Network) A network interface that connects the local routing domain to external networks across large geographic distances, serving as the primary ingress and egress point for Internet traffic.
WEP
An obsolete wireless encryption method with known security vulnerabilities.
WiFi Schedule
Allows the user to define specific times for the Wi-Fi radio to automatically turn on or off.
Wireless 2.4G
An IEEE 802.11 wireless radio operating in the 2.4 GHz ISM band, characterized by wider coverage, lower throughput, and higher susceptibility to interference.
Wireless 5G
An IEEE 802.11 wireless radio operating in the 5 GHz band, offering higher data rates, reduced congestion, and improved spectrum efficiency compared to 2.4 GHz.
Wireless 6G
An IEEE 802.11 radio operating in the 6 GHz band (Wi-Fi 6E), enabling ultra-wide channels, lower latency, and minimal legacy interference.
Wireless Access Point
A device or mode that extends a wired network by providing wireless connectivity without performing routing functions such as NAT.
Wireless Extender
A device or mode that amplifies and retransmits existing Wi-Fi signals to extend coverage without creating a separate network.
Wireless Mode
Specifies the Wi-Fi standard (e.g., 802.11ax/ac/n) to balance data speed and device compatibility.
Wireless Router
A router operating in standard routing mode that provides both wired and wireless connectivity, typically with NAT, DHCP, and firewall services enabled.
WISP
(Wireless Internet Service Provider Mode) An operational mode in which the router functions as a wireless client to an upstream access point, using a wireless backhaul instead of a wired WAN interface.
WLAN
A wireless local area network based on IEEE 802.11 standards.
WMM Support
A Wi-Fi Multimedia feature that prioritizes voice and video traffic.
WPS
Wi-Fi Protected Setup; a button-based method to connect devices without typing a password (often disabled for security).
WPA2
A secure Wi-Fi encryption standard using AES.
WPA2 Mixed Mode
Allows both WPA and WPA2 clients to connect.
WPA3
The latest Wi-Fi security standard with enhanced protection.
WPA3 Transition Mode
Enables compatibility between WPA2 and WPA3 clients.