Chapter 2: Additional Information
16
Glossary
10/100/1000BaseT –
Unshielded, twisted pair cable with an RJ-45 connector, used with Ethernet LAN
(Local Area Network). “10/100/1000” indicates auto-sensing speed (10 Mbps or 100 Mbps or 1Gbps), “Base”
refers to baseband technology,
and “T” means twisted pair cable
.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) –
A protocol which allows a server to dynamically
assign IP addresses to workstations on the fly.
DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) –
A project with the objective of developing a set
of necessary specifications and operations support interface specifications for cable modems and associated
equipment.
Ethernet card –
A plug-in circuit board installed in an expansion slot of a personal computer. The
Ethernet card (sometimes called a Network Interface Card or NIC) takes parallel data from the
computer, converts it to serial data, puts it into a packet format, and sends it over the 10BaseT or
100BaseT or 1000BaseT LAN cable.
F Connector –
A type of coaxial connector, labeled CABLE IN on the rear of the cable modem,
that connects the modem to the cable system.
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) –
Invisible to the user, HTTP is used by servers and
clients to communicate and display information on a client browser.
Hub –
A device used to connect multiple computers to the cable modem.
IP Address –
A unique, 32-bit address assigned to every device in a network. An IP (Internet
Protocol) address has two parts: a network address and a host address. This modem receives a
new IP address from your cable operator via DHCP each time it goes through Initialization Mode.
MAC Address –
The permanent “identity” for a device programmed into the Media Access
Control layer in the network architecture during the modem’s manufacture.
Network Driver –
A file that is loaded on the computer to allow the computer to recognize the
Ethernet card.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) –
A networking protocol that
provides communication across interconnected networks, between computers with diverse
hardware architectures and various operating systems.
