Glossary
10BaseT – Unshielded, twisted pair cable with an RJ-45 connector, used with Ethernet LAN (Local
Area Network). “10” indicates speed (10 Mbps), “Base” refers to baseband technology, and “T”
means twisted pair cable.
Authentication - The process of verifying the identity of an entity on a network.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) – A protocol which allows a server to dynamically
assign IP addresses to IP device 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 LAN cable.
Euro-DOCSIS – The modified DOCSIS standard to accommodate European cable systems which
often use 8 MHz channel spacing cable networks.
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 web 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.
Key exchange - The swapping of mathematical values between entities on a network in order to
allow encrypted communication between them.
MAC Address – The permanent “identity” for a device programmed into the Media Access
Control layer in the network architecture during the modem’s manufacturing.
Network Driver – A file that is loaded on the computer to allow the computer to recognize the
Ethernet card or USB port.
