NAT occurs when multiple IP addresses on a private LAN are converted to one public address. This public address is sent outto the Internet. NAT adds a level of security because the IP address for a computer connected to the private LAN is nevertransmitted to the Internet. NAT also allows xDSL/cable routers to be used with low-cost Internet accounts, where only oneTCP/IP address is provided by the Internet service provider. The user may have many private addresses masked by the singleaddress 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 identifieris a combination of any letters or numbers that are appropriate for the network environment. ESSID is specifically for AccessPoints. 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 andequipments 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 ausername and/or password. It is a selection or action that reconfigures a device to the default parameters, as it was originallymanufactured.PortA port is a connector on a networking device used to attach the network cable. Hubs and switches have numerous ports thatconnect to computers on the network.ProtocolProtocol refers to a set of rules for sending and receiving information on a network. The rules determine the format of the datathat is transmitted and other aspects of networking, such as how errors are detected and corrected. The protocol driver in eachcomputer is software that adheres to these rules when sending and receiving information. These drivers are also often calledprotocols.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 updata into small units, called "packets," to be sent to another computer and how the receiving computer reassembles thepackets into a single file. IP determines how the packets are routed across the Internet. See Internet Protocol.Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN)A VLAN is a network of computers that behave as if they are connected to the same wire, even though they may be physicallylocated on different segments of a LAN. VLANs are configured through software rather than hardware, which makes themextremely flexible. When a computer on a VLAN is physically moved to another location, it can stay on the same VLAN withoutany hardware reconfigurations.Virtual ServerA virtual server is a device that performs Internet protocol (IP) mapping. IP mapping allows remote client access to yournetwork via the Internet.