Port Forwarding is the term used for the process of intercepting and redirecting the data traffic within a network that is headed for a destination. In computer networking, the whole existence is for the purpose of sending data to devices connected within the network. Port forwarding simply is sending the data to any IP/Port combination that isn’t its destination but the whole process ends with the data reaching its destination. In any network, port forwarding can be done by software that is on the target device or it can be performed using intermediate hardware in networks such as a router, firewall or proxy server.

Port forwarding is used in all the different networks and it helps in keeping the data traffic in check while keeping the network secure. Port forwarding can restrict unwanted access on the server or network and limit access on the same. This also allows the host to have multiple layers of security before any data gets to the destination. This is the part of networking that allows more control over the server to host and secures the network limiting the access in and out of the server.

DHCP in computer networking stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol and is the protocol responsible for assigning IP addresses and configuration to devices connected over a network. Basic requirement over a network for device to connect and operate is that it has an IP address and network configuration. These IP addresses are needed to be assigned either manually by the administrator or the APIPA Address is assigned by computer to itself. APIPA address limits the computer to its local subnet and it can’t work outside of that subnet. DHCP allows the computer to request for it’s IP address and configuration from the ISP so the manual work if the administrator is not needed.

DHCP is applicable to different types of networks ranging from a local network at residence or even a bigger campus as well as an ISP network. The DHCP server can be a router in a network or it can be a residential gateway. The routers usually have their own IP address by default provided by the ISP network and this DHCP server then gives a local IP address to computers connected over the network.

MAC Cloning is setting the MAC address of your PC or any other MAC address as your device WAN port and this is one of the methods to fix connectivity issues. MAC stands for Media Access Control and this is the hardware address that the Network Interface Card is manufactured with. At times computers face connectivity issues even with the hardware and ssoftwarefunctioning properly and at these times MAC cloning is used to fix this. An IP address is assigned to any computer by DHCP after reading its MAC address and thus IP address is lost once the computer disconnects. On reconnecting within the leasing period DHCP checks the MAC address again to assign the same IP address as before. Adding a different device such as a router that has its own MAC address connectivity issues with arise. 

These connectivity issues that arise due to the addition of external new MAC address into the network are fixed by MAC cloning. By simply cloning the MAC address that the ISP has used for assigning IP addresses this connectivity issue can be solved.

SSID or Service Set Identifier in networking is the digital presence mark for networks that are editable and are constructed by simple languages and characters. A more simplified explanation is SSID are the names that are visible as available networks on a device such as a laptop or a smartphone. The common example of SSID that can be seen every day is available WiFi or the hotspot name that is set manually or by default. Every network has an SSID and for products, the SSID by default is usually their brand name or the model name as in routers or modems.

Default SSIDs of any device is the one that is on it working without getting set manually. It’s just the name of hotspot or WiFi that you tap on for getting connected to that network sometimes with a password or even without that. Manual SSIDs are suggested for keeping the network secure rather than the default SSIDs that are more vulnerable to hackers. A network can also have more than one SSID and the SSID can be changed for any wireless network by the host.

PPPoE in networking is derived from point-to-point protocol and the only difference is that it is Point-to-point protocol over Ethernet. Commonly used in DSL services and networks with multiple users connected over a DSL modem using Ethernet in the local network. PPPoE allows the devices on Ethernet modem to established connections from point-to-point creating a secure way to transfer data. ISP or telephone companies also have their use for connecting with users and keeping the individuals under regulation. This allows them to separate the users and keep the network and services under control for each of them to change services any time they have to.

Different users or subscribers are provided different services by the same ISP and company with PPPoE and prepaid services are also possible with it. For large scale such as an ISP with multiple users connected to them and taking different services, it is useful at all levels. Changes in speed, services, and subscription can be done without affecting others connecting on the Ethernet is possible with PPPoE.