HP Deskjet 6988dt Printer User Manual
Page 50
Hubs, switches, and routers can look similar, but there are important differences:
●
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.
●
A switch allows devices on a network to communicate directly with one another in a
smooth and efficient manner. A switch monitors and directs network traffic in order
to allow each transmission the most possible bandwidth. By monitoring network
traffic, a switch minimizes collisions and maximizes speed.
●
Routers primarily connect different networks (for example, connecting a home
network to the Internet). Routers are active. Routers have network administration
tools, such as
and
. A router can act as a
, while a hub and
a switch cannot.
Cables
Use a CAT-5 Ethernet cable to connect the printer to an Ethernet network. Ethernet
cables have an RJ-45 plug.
1 RJ-45 plug
Network communication
TCP/IP
Devices on a network communicate with one another using a "language" called a
. The printer is designed to operate on networks that use a popular protocol called
.
IP address
Each device on a network identifies itself with a unique IP address. Most networks use
a software tool, such as
, to automatically assign IP addresses.
Internet connections
Networks might not be connected to the Internet.
If you place the printer on a network connected to the Internet, it is recommended that
you use a
so that the printer's
is assigned through
.
A gateway can either be a
or a Windows computer running
. For more information about ICS, see the documentation that came with
the Windows computer.
Ethernet network examples
To see some examples of Ethernet networks, see the
page.
Chapter 4
48
HP Deskjet 6980 series