HP 7410xi, 2710xi manual Nic

(continued)

hub

No longer used much in modern home networks, a hub takes its signal

from each computer and sends it to all of the other computers connected

to the hub. Hubs, are passive; other devices on the network plug into the

hub in order to communicate with one another. A hub does not manage

the network.

IP address

A number that uniquely identifies the device on the network. IP addresses

are assigned dynamically through DHCP or AutoIP. You can also set up a

static IP address, though this is not recommended.

infrastructure

An infrastructure network uses a router, switch, or access point to

connect network elements.

MAC address

Media Access Control (MAC) address that uniquely identifies the HP all-

in-one. This is a unique 12-digit identification number assigned to

networking hardware for identification. No two pieces of hardware have

the same MAC address.

NIC

Network Interface Card. A card on your computer that provides an

Ethernet connection so that you can connect your computer to a network.

RJ-45 connector

The connector on the ends of an Ethernet cable. Although standard

Ethernet cable connectors (RJ-45 connectors) look similar to standard

telephone cable connectors, they are not interchangeable. An RJ-45

connector is wider and thicker and always has 8 contacts on the end. A

phone connector has between 2 and 6 contacts.

SSID

Service Set Identifier. A unique identifier (up to 32 characters) that

differentiates one wireless local area network (WLAN) from another. The

SSID is also referred to as the network name. This is the name of the

network to which the HP all-in-one is connected.

router

A router provides a bridge between two or more networks. A router can

link a network to the Internet, link two networks and connect both to the

Internet, and help secure networks through the use of firewalls and

assigning dynamic addresses. A router can also act as a gateway, while a

switch cannot.

switch

A switch makes it possible for several users to send information over a

network at the same time without slowing each other down. Switches allow

different nodes (a network connection point, typically a computer) of a

network to communicate directly with one another.

WEP key

The passkey for Wired Equivalent Privacy encryption, which provides a

first level of security against casual eavesdroppers.

WPA Password or

The password for Wi-Fi Protected Access. The passkey is 8 to 63

Passkey

characters long, including spaces. WPA provides security by verifying the

identity of a user or device before granting access to the network, making

it more difficult for unauthorized users to get at network resources. This

security method is common on wireless networks.