CPE
Customer Premises Equipment located in a user's premises.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
DHCP is software that automatically assigns IP addresses to client stations logging onto a
TCP/IP network. DHCP eliminates having to manually assign permanent IP addresses to
every device on your network. DHCP software typically runs in servers and is also found in
network devices such as Routers.
DMT
Discrete Multi-Tone frequency signal modulation.
Downstream rate
The line rate for return messages or data transfers from the network machine to the user's
premises machine.
DSLAM
Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplex.
Dynamic IP Addresses
A dynamic IP address is an IP address that is automatically assigned to a client station
(computer, printer, etc.) in a TCP/IP network. Dynamic IP addresses are typically assigned
by a DHCP server, which can be a computer on the network or another piece of hardware,
such as the Router. A dynamic IP address may change every time your computer connects
to the network.
Encapsulation
The technique layer protocols in which a layer adds header information to the protocol data
unit (PDU) from the layer above. As an example, in Internet terminology, a packet would
contain a header from the physical layer, followed by a header from the network layer (IP),
followed by a header from the transport layer (TCP), and followed by the application
protocol data.
Ethernet
One of the most common local area network (LAN) wiring schemes, Ethernet has a
transmission rate of 10 Mbps.
FTP
File Transfer Protocol. The Internet protocol (and program) transfer files between hosts.
76
