Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What is the term used by ISPs to refer to equipment installed at the customer site?

1. Customer Premise Equipment (CPE)

2. Router hardware

3. Modem configuration

4. Local Area Network (LAN)

The correct answer is: Customer Premise Equipment (CPE)

The term "Customer Premise Equipment" (CPE) refers to the devices and equipment that service providers deploy at a customer's location to facilitate connectivity to their service. This can include various devices such as routers, modems, and other necessary hardware that enable internet access and communication services. CPE is crucial as it acts as the interface between the end user's network—whether it's for home or business use—and the wider network provided by the ISP. By using this term, ISPs can clearly delineate between the equipment they manage in their infrastructure and the devices that customers own and maintain on their premises. The other terms provided serve different purposes. Router hardware is a component of CPE, but it doesn't encompass all equipment that might be installed. Modem configuration refers specifically to the settings and parameters used to establish a connection, rather than the equipment itself. Finally, a Local Area Network (LAN) describes a network that connects devices within a limited area, which does not specifically refer to the equipment installed by ISPs at customer sites.