Hub
A box with several Ethernet connectors. Ethernet hubs provide a common
point of contact for all connected devices.
IP address
A number assigned to your computer by your cable company, used to iden-
tify your computer to other systems on the Internet.
LAN
Local Area Network. A network that allows computers in a single location
(such as a building) to communicate with one another.
LED
Light Emitting Diode. A semi-conductor diode that emits light when current
is passed through it.
MAC address
A number that uniquely identifies any device connected to a network. Your
cable company uses your Data Gateway’s MAC address to authorize access
to the Internet. The MAC address is printed on a label on the bottom of your
Data Gateway.
Protocol
A set of rules and formats that determines the communication behavior of
network entities at a given layer.
Proxy
A device or program that stands in between a server (for example, a web
site) and a client (your browser), providing a way to relieve some of the
burden from the server. For example, your cable company may have a web
proxy that keeps copies of popular web pages; the proxy can send you those
pages instead of fetching them directly from the web site, resulting in faster
page loading and less network congestion.
RF
Abbreviation for Radio Frequency. Some literature refers to coax as “RF
cable” and the connectors as “RF connectors.”
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