W

warm site

The most common type of alternate site used by organizations, which provides a computer environment with the necessary power and connectivity resources so that computers and other hardware can quickly be moved into the site if necessary because of a disaster.

well-known ports

Port numbers ranging from 0 to 1023 that are that most commonly used ports utilized by computers, applications, and protocols.

wide area network

A network that is used to connect LANs to other LANs. Typically, the connection speeds are much slower compared with a LAN.

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)

A protocol designed to improve upon WEP with enhanced data encryption and secure authentication.

Windows 9x

A term used to refer to the Windows client operating systems of the 1990s and early 2000 including Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Millennium Edition (Me).

Windows Product Activation (WPA)

The process of electronically pairing up a scan of hardware components in a computer with the software license. The result is an activation key that allows the software to continue operating. This process is designed to prevent casual copying of Windows software.

Windows Update

A feature included in the Windows XP operating system that allows the computer to automatically download the latest security updates from Microsoft's website. This can also be controlled automatically based on a schedule set by the user.

Windows Update website

A site that is maintained by Microsoft to provide the latest critical updates and other security updates for operating systems and built-in applications.

winipcfg

A GUI-based tool used to view IP configuration and renew addresses on Windows 9x clients.

WINS

Windows Internet Name Services. A service consisting of network-based servers that dynamically registers IP addresses and NetBIOS names of computers on a network and then provides name resolution to clients.

wire crimpers

A tool that resembles a pair of special pliers and is used to strip a network cable to expose the individual wires as well as to hold the connector in place and secure it firmly onto the wires.

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)

A misnomer given to the first standard for wireless security, which was actually not very secure. WEP has been replaced or upgraded by WPA.

wired infrastructure

A network design in which each computer has a network cable connected to a network device or to another computer.

wireless access point (WAP)

A component that operates at the Physical layer of the OSI model, connecting devices that use wireless network interface cards to the wired network and the resources that it provides, including the Internet.

wireless infrastructure

A network design in which each computer has a wireless network interface card that can connect to a WAP without the use of network cables. Typically a wireless infrastructure is just one part of a network that is connected to a wired infrastructure.