HP Deskjet 6980 Printer series - Ethernet basics

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

firewalls

and

DHCP

. A router can act as a

gateway

, 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

protocol

. The printer is designed to operate on networks that use a popular protocol called

TCP/IP

.

IP address

Each device on a network identifies itself with a unique IP address. Most networks use
a software tool, such as

DHCP

or

AutoIP

, 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

gateway

so that the printer's

IP address

is assigned through

DHCP

.

A gateway can either be a

router

or a Windows computer running

Internet Connection

Sharing (ICS)

. 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

Ethernet network examples

page.

Chapter 4

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HP Deskjet 6980 series