Set up your network

Chapter 13

(continued)

 

HEX

Hexadecimal. The base 16 numbering system, which uses the

 

digits 0-9 plus the letters A-F.

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.

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HP Officejet 7200 All-in-One series