Apple AirPort Networks User Manual download pdf (Page 53)

CHAPTER

4 Behind the Scenes

This chapter deﬁnes terms and concepts used when working with computer networks. Use it

as a reference to help you understand what is taking place behind the scenes of your AirPort

wireless network.

Basic Networking

Packets and Traffic

Information travels across a network in chunks called packets. Each packet has a header that

tells where the packet is from and where it’s going, like the address on the envelope when

you send a letter. The ﬂow of all these packets on the network is called trafﬁc.

How Information Reaches Its Destination

Hardware Addresses

Your computer “listens” to all of the trafﬁc on its local network and selects the packets that

belong to it by checking for its hardware address (also called the media access control or

MAC address) in the packet header. This address is a number unique to your computer.

Every hardware product used for networking is required to have a unique hardware address

permanently embedded in it. Your AirPort Card’s number is called the AirPort ID.

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Apple AirPort Networks User Manual Page 53