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Networking glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terms that come up when you're looking up a device or logging into a router — MAC addresses, OUIs, default gateways, router credential types, WiFi security, and the regulations behind them.
What is an OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifier)?What is a MAC address?What is a default gateway?WPA2 vs WPA3: what's the difference?What is DHCP?What is a subnet mask?What is a universal default password?What does "app-only" router management mean?What is a label-unique router password?What does "set on first setup" mean for router passwords?What is router firmware?What does factory-reset actually do?What is an SSID (WiFi network name)?What is a router admin panel?What is port forwarding?What is a VLAN?What is mesh WiFi?Access point vs router: what's the difference?What is the UK PSTI Act?What is the EU Cyber Resilience Act?
Guides from the blog
- What the DNS setting on your router does, and when to change it
- IPv4 vs IPv6 on your home network, and whether you need to care
- What a default gateway is, and how to find yours
- What your router's ARP table shows, and how to read it
- What UPnP does on your router, and why it's usually best left off
- What causes an IP address conflict on your network, and how to fix it