G
Gateway
The device, usually a router, that
connects devices on a given IP subnet to
other IP subnets.
H
Headend
The “central office” in an HFC network.
The headend houses both video and data
equipment. In larger cable networks, a
“master” headend often feeds several
“remote” headends to provide distributed
services.
HTTP
HyperText Transfer Protocol.
Hub
A box with several Ethernet connectors.
Ethernet hubs provide a common point of
contact for all connected devices.
I
IP address
A number assigned to your computer by
your cable company, used to identify your
computer to other systems on the
Internet.
L
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.
M
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.
P
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.
R
RF
Abbreviation for Radio Frequency. Some
literature refers to coax as “RF cable” and
the connectors as “RF connectors.”
RJ-45
A standard 8-conductor modular
connector, commonly used on Ethernet
cable. An RJ-45 connector looks like a
wide RJ-11 (telephone) connector.
S
Splitter
A small box with three cable connectors:
one input and two outputs. You may need
a splitter if you have a TV already
Release 24 STANDARD 1.1 February 2015
Touchstone DG2460 Data Gateway User Guide 36
