Which component typically routes data between cable modems and the IP network?

Which component typically routes data between cable modems and the IP network?

• A. Cable Modem Termination System; routes data between cable modems and the IP network
• B. Headend
• C. Gateway
• D. Service drop

Answer: (A)

In a DOCSIS network, the device that connects cable modems to the IP backbone is the Cable Modem Termination System. It terminates the DOCSIS protocol on the provider side, coordinating upstream and downstream data from all modems and interfacing with the IP network through the provider’s routers. This component effectively bridges the RF cable network to the IP layer, handling how packets are mapped, scheduled, and forwarded toward the Internet, as well as how inbound IP traffic is delivered to the correct modem. The headend is the facility where the CMTS and other network gear are housed, but it’s not the routing function itself. A gateway is a general term for a device that connects different networks, but in this context the specialized role is fulfilled by the CMTS, which is designed to manage DOCSIS traffic between modems and the IP network. The service drop is simply the coaxial connection from the street to the subscriber and does not perform data routing.

In a DOCSIS network, the device that connects cable modems to the IP backbone is the Cable Modem Termination System. It terminates the DOCSIS protocol on the provider side, coordinating upstream and downstream data from all modems and interfacing with the IP network through the provider’s routers. This component effectively bridges the RF cable network to the IP layer, handling how packets are mapped, scheduled, and forwarded toward the Internet, as well as how inbound IP traffic is delivered to the correct modem.

The headend is the facility where the CMTS and other network gear are housed, but it’s not the routing function itself. A gateway is a general term for a device that connects different networks, but in this context the specialized role is fulfilled by the CMTS, which is designed to manage DOCSIS traffic between modems and the IP network. The service drop is simply the coaxial connection from the street to the subscriber and does not perform data routing.