Common Terms
This helpfile uses certain terms frequently. We recommended that you understand all the following terms. For further advanced explanations, see the Glossary.
- Windows Service
- Windows services are programs that run when a Windows computer is started. You generally cannot see a Window for services. Services are not closed when a user logs out, only when the computer is shut down. A common example is the program that allows your mouse to operate, the ‘mouse driver’.
- WinGate Engine
- This refers to the executable component of WinGate, which provides the actual server functionality (WinGate Services that let you access the Internet). You cannot see the engine running, as it runs silently as a service. The WinGate Engine is configured via GateKeeper.
- WinGate Server
- This is the computer where you installed the WinGate software. Your network accesses the Internet via this computer, so it needs a connection to the Internet.
- Client Computer
- This is a computer on your network that is not connected to the Internet but gets its access via the WinGate server. Client computers are often referred to as workstations.
- GateKeeper
- GateKeeper is the remote control and configuration program for WinGate. It is the user interface for the WinGate engine.
- License Count
- This is the maximum number of computers that are allowed to access the Internet via your WinGate server at any one time. This number is 3, 6, 12, 25, 50, 100, 250,or 250+, depending on the license you purchase.
- License Type
- This is either Standard, Pro, or Enterprise.
- Client Application
- A Client app is a program that helps you do something, such as read email or read WWW pages (e.g. Netscape, Eudora etc).
- Server
- A computer or a program running on a computer that provides a service (e.g. Email server, WWW server).
- Proxy
- A proxy is a program or service that does something for you on your behalf, an intermediary between client and server. See the later section on Services.
- WinGate Client
- The WinGate Internet Client (WGIC) provides access to the Winsock redirector service. This allows client applications to use the Internet as if they are directly connected.
- WGIC
- WinGate Internet Client.
- NAT
- Network Address Translator.
- ENS
- Extended Network Support.
- TCP/IP
- TCP/IP is a network protocol. Computers use this protocol to communicate with each other on a network. The main protocol in use on the Internet is TCP/IP.
- DNS
- Domain Name Service. This is a service that lets you ‘look up’ a computer’s address on the Internet.
- IP Address
- Internet Protocol address. Usually referred to as an IP. This is a computer’s ‘address’ on a network. All your client computers need an IP address. The WinGate DHCP server will do this for you.
- User
- User accounts allow individual access restriction and monitoring. Any number of users can be added.
- Groups
- Groups are collections of users. WinGate allows nesting of groups.
- Access Rights
- Rights can be assigned to individual users or groups.
- localhost
- Localhost is a TCP/IP name used to refer to the computer you are using. Localhost is a computer’s way of saying ‘me’, or referring to itself. If you wish to use a service that is on the computer that you are using (e.g. logging on to WinGate for the first time) you use the name localhost. The address localhost is not included in the license count. The localhost IP address is always 127.0.0.1
- Interface
- An interface is a ‘network connection’, i.e. a way to connect to another computer, e.g. a network card, a dialer profile, or your local loop back: localhost.
- Binding
- Binding a service to an interface causes that service to listen on that interface. The WinGate services default to ‘Bind to all interfaces’.
- ISP
- Internet Service Provider. This is the company from who you obtain your Internet access e.g. if you have a modem, you ring their phone number.
- WRP
- Winsock Redirection Protocol. WRP is the protocol used by the WGIC and WRS to provide Winsock redirection services.
- WRS
- Winsock Redirector Service. This is the service in WinGate that provides Winsock redirection.
