802.11 
A set of IEEE standards for data transmission over wireless LANs. The specs include 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. All of the specifications use the Ethernet protocol.

802.11 describes a wireless LAN that operates in the 2.4GHz range and provides a data transmission rate of 1Mbps or 2Mbps using spread spectrum technology. The 2.4GHz range is already crowded, however, with microwave ovens, cell phones, PDAs, Bluetooth, and other devices, so signal interference is a risk.

802.11a describes a wireless LAN that operates in the 5GHz frequency range and provides a data transmission speed of up to 54Mbps. It uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology. The 5GHz range is less crowded with devices than the 2.4GHz range, so there is less risk of interference.

802.11b is the most widespread wireless LAN standard. It describes a wireless LAN that operates in the 2.4GHz frequency range with a data transmission speed of up to 11Mbps using spread spectrum technology. (This specification was also known as Wi-Fi, but that term now encompasses newer standards such as 802.11a and 802.11g.) The 2.4GHz range is already crowded, however, with microwave ovens, cell phones, PDAs, Bluetooth, and other devices, so signal interference is a risk.

802.11g describes a wireless LAN that operates in the 2.4GHz frequency range. It provides a data transmission speed (over short distances) of up to 54Mbps using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology. The 2.4GHz range is already crowded, however, with microwave ovens, cell phones, PDAs, Bluetooth, and other devices, so signal interference is a risk.

802.1x is a security standard for wired and wireless LANs. It encapsulates EAP processes into Ethernet packets instead of using the protocol's native PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) environment, thus reducing some network overhead. It also puts the bulk of the processing burden upon the client (called a supplicant in 802.1x parlance) and the authentication server (such as a RADIUS), letting the "authenticator" middleman simply pass the packets back and forth. Because the authenticator does so little, its role can be filled by a device with minimal processing power, such as an access point on a wireless network.