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Technical Terms

In this section, technical terms used in the manual are explained.

A

  • Ad-hoc

    Client computer and printer setting where wireless communication occurs on a peer-to-peer basis, i.e., all clients in with the same network name (SSID) communicate directly with each other. No wireless router is required. This printer does not support ad-hoc communication.

  • Admin Password

    Administrator password in Wi-Fi Connection Assistant to restrict access to network users. It must be entered to access the printer and change printer settings.

  • AES

    An encryption method. It is optional for WPA. Strong cryptographic algorithm adopted within U.S. government organizations for information processing.

  • Authentication Method

    The method that a wireless router uses to authenticate a printer through a Wi-Fi. The methods are agreeable each other.

    For WPA/WPA2, authentication method is PSK.

B

  • Bonjour

    A service built into macOS operating system to detect the connectable devices on a network automatically.

C

  • Channel

    Frequency channel for wireless communication. In the infrastructure mode, the channel is automatically adjusted to match that set to the wireless router. This printer supports channels 1 to 13. (Channels 12 and 13 are not supported depending on the country or region of purchase.) Note that the number of channels that can be used for your Wi-Fi varies depending on the region or country.

D

  • Default Gateway

    A relay device to connect to another network such as a router or a computer.

  • Default router address

    A default IP address set for a router.

  • DHCP server functionality

    The router assigns an IP address automatically whenever the printer or the personal computer on a network starts up.

  • DHCPv6

    A protocol to assign necessary information automatically when a computer connects to network. DHCPv6 can be used when IPv6 is enabled.

  • DNS server

    A server that converts device names into IP addresses. When specifying IP addresses manually, specify the addresses of both a primary and a secondary server.

E

  • Easy wireless connect (Cableless setup)

    Specifies a wireless router settings using a device (e.g. smartphone) directly without using a wireless router.

F

  • Firewall

    It is a system that prevents an unlawful computer access in the network. To prevent, you can use the firewall function of a broadband router, the security software installed in the computer, or operation system for computer.

H

  • Host name

    A name for a computer or printer on network so that it can be recognized easily. Single-byte alphanumeric characters are used generally.

I

  • IEEE802.11b

    International standard for Wi-Fi using the 2.4 GHz frequency range with a throughput of up to 11 Mbps.

  • IEEE802.11g

    International standard for Wi-Fi using the 2.4 GHz frequency range with a throughput of up to 54 Mbps. Compatible with 802.11b.

  • IEEE802.11n

    International standard for Wi-Fi using the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency ranges. Even when using two or more antennas simultaneously or obtaining a bigger transfer rate than before by using multiple communication channels at the same time, the transmission speed may be influenced by the connected apparatus.

    At the maximum transfer rate of 600 Mbps, it is possible to communicate with multiple computer terminals within a dozen or so metre radius.

    Compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g.

  • Infrastructure

    One of the wireless communication methods. Wireless communication devices (e.g. computer or printer) are connected to the network via a wireless router.

  • IP Address

    A unique number with four parts separated by dots. Every network device that is connected to the Internet has an IP address. Example: 192.168.0.1

    An IP address is usually assigned by a wireless router or a DHCP server of the router automatically.

  • IPv4/IPv6

    They are internetwork-layer protocol used on the internet. IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses and IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses.

K

  • Key Format

    Select either ASCII or Hex as the WEP key format. The character that can be used for the WEP key differs depending on the selected key formats.

    • ASCII

      Specify with a 5 or 13-character string that can include alphanumeric and underscore "_" characters. It is case-sensitive.

    • Hex

      Specify a 10-digit or 26-digit string that can contain hexadecimal (0 to 9, A to F, and a to f).

  • Key Length

    Length of the WEP key. Select either 64 bits or 128 bits. Longer key length allows you to set a more complex WEP key.

L

  • Link local address

    An IP address generated automatically from a specific prefix (information of current network: fe80::) and an interface identifier generated from printer's MAC address.

  • Link Quality

    The status of the connection between the wireless router and the printer excluding noise (interference) is indicated with a value from 0 to 100%.

  • LPR

    A platform-independent printing protocol used in TCP/IP networks. It does not support bidirectional communication.

M

  • MAC Address

    Also known as the physical address. A unique and permanent hardware identifier that is assigned to network devices by its manufacturer. MAC addresses are 48 bits long and are written as a hexadecimal number separated by colons, i.e., 11:22:33:44:55:66.

O

  • Operation Status

    Indicates the status on whether the printer can be used.

P

  • Prefix length

    The number of bits on the network part of an IP address. The number of bits is 8 bit to 24 bit for IPv4, and 64 bit for IPv6.

  • Proxy server

    A server that links a LAN-connected computer to the Internet. When using a proxy server, specify the address and the port number of the proxy server.

  • PSK

    An encryption method employed by WPA/WPA2.

R

  • Router

    A relay device to connect to another network.

S

  • Signal Strength

    The strength of the signal received by the printer from the wireless router is indicated with a value from 0 to 100%.

  • Network name (SSID)

    Unique label for Wi-Fi. It is often represented such as a network name or a wireless router name.

    network name (SSID) distinguishes one Wi-Fi from another to prevent interference.

    The printer and all clients on a Wi-Fi must use the same network name (SSID) in order to communicate with each other. The network name (SSID) can be up to 32 characters long, and is made up of alphanumeric characters. The network name (SSID) may also be referred to by its network name.

  • Stealth

    In the stealth mode, a wireless router hides itself by not broadcasting its network name (SSID). The client must specify the network name (SSID) set to the wireless router to detect it.

  • Stateful address

    An IPv6 address acquired from a DHCP server using DHCPv6.

  • Stateless address

    A tentative IPv6 address generated automatically using a prefix included in RA (Router Advertisement) and a MAC address. An IPv6 address is generated in an environment where a DHCP server is not available.

  • Subnet Mask

    IP address has two components, the network address and the host address. Subnet Mask used to calculate the Subnet Mask address from the IP address. A Subnet Mask is usually assigned by a wireless router or a DHCP server of the router automatically.

    Example:

    IP Address: 192.168.127.123

    Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

    Subnet Mask Address: 192.168.127.0

T

  • TCP/IP

    Suite of communications protocols used to connect hosts on the Internet or the LAN. This protocol allows different terminals to communicate with each other.

  • TKIP

    An encryption protocol employed by WPA/WPA2.

U

  • USB

    Serial interface designed to enable you to "hot-swap" devices, i.e., by plugging and unplugging them without turning off the power.

W

  • WCN (Windows Connect Now)

    Users running Windows Vista or later can obtain the setting information directly via wireless network (WCN-NET).

  • WEP/WEP Key

    An encryption method employed by IEEE 802.11. Shared security key used to encrypt and decrypt data sent over wireless networks. This printer supports key length of 64 bits or 128 bits, key format of ASCII code or Hexadecimal, and key number of 1 to 4.

  • Wi-Fi

    International association that certifies interoperability of Wi-Fi products based on the IEEE 802.11 specification.

    This printer is a Wi-Fi authorized product.

  • Wireless Direct

    The printer is used as a wireless router to connect external wireless communication devices (e.g. computers, smartphones, or tablets) in an environment where no wireless router is available. You can connect up to 5 devices to the printer using Wireless Direct.

  • Wireless LAN

    A network that, instead of being connected by physical wires, is connected by a wireless technology, such as Wi-Fi.

  • Wireless Router

    A wireless transceiver or base station that receives information from wireless clients/the printer and rebroadcasts it. Required in an infrastructure network.

  • WPA

    Security framework announced by the Wi-Fi Alliance in October 2002. The security has been strengthened more than WEP.

    • Authentication

      WPA defines the following authentication methods: PSK that can be used without an authentication server, plus WPA-802.1x that do require an authentication server.

      This printer supports WPA-PSK.

    • Passphrase

      This encrypted key is used to perform WPA-PSK authentication.

      The password should be a string of 8 to 63 alphanumeric characters or a 64-digit hexadecimal value.

  • WPA2

    Security framework released by the Wi-Fi Alliance in September 2004 as a later version of WPA. Provides a stronger encryption mechanism through Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

    • Authentication

      WPA2 defines the following authentication methods: PSK that can be used without an authentication server, plus WPA2-802.1x that do require an authentication server.

      This printer supports WPA2-PSK.

    • Passphrase

      This encrypted key is used to perform WPA2-PSK authentication.

      The password should be a string of 8 to 63 alphanumeric characters or a 64-digit hexadecimal value.

  • WPA3

    Security framework released by the Wi-Fi Alliance in June 2018 as a later version of WPA. The security has been strengthened more than WPA2.

    • Authentication

      WPA3 defines the following authentication methods: Personal and Enterprise.

    • Passphrase

      This encrypted key is used to perform WPA3-Personal authentication.

      The password should be a string of 1 to 127 alphanumeric characters for the printer.

  • WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)

    WPS is a standard for easy and secure establishment of a wireless network.

    There are 2 primary methods used in the Wi-Fi Protected Setup:

    PIN entry: a mandatory method of setup for all WPS certified devices

    Push button configuration (PBC): an actual push button on the hardware or through a simulated push button in the software.