Unit 1

Network hardware

Network Devices (Hub, Repeater, Bridge, Switch, Router, Gateways and Brouter)

Network devices are physical devices that allow hardware on a computer network to communicate
and interact with each other. Network devices like hubs, repeaters, bridges, switches, routers,
gateways, and brouter help manage and direct data flow in a network. They ensure efficient
communication between connected devices by controlling data transfer, boosting signals, and linking
different networks. Each device serves a specific role, from simple data forwarding to complex
routing between networks. In this article, we are going to discuss different types of network devices
in detail.

Types of Network Devices

Functions of Network Devices

 Network devices help to send and receive data between different devices.

 Network devices allow devices to connect to the network efficiently and securely.

 Network devices improves network speed and manage data flow better.

 It protects the network by controlling access and preventing threats.

 Expand the network range and solve signal problems.

Common Types of Networking Devices and Their Uses

Network devices work as a mediator between two devices for transmission of data, and thus play a
very important role in the functioning of a computer network. Below are some common network
devices used in modern networks:

 Access Point

 Modems
  Firewalls

 Repeater

 Hub

 Bridge

 Switch

 Routers

 Gateway

 Brouter

 NIC

Access Point

An access point in networking is a device that allows wireless devices, like smartphones and laptops,
to connect to a wired network. It creates a Wi-Fi network that lets wireless devices communicate
with the internet or other devices on the network. Access points are used to extend the range of a
network or provide Wi-Fi in areas that do not have it. They are commonly found in homes, offices,
and public places to provide wireless internet access.

Modems

Modem is also known as modulator/demodulator is a network device that is used to convert digital
signal into analog signals of different frequencies and transmits these signals to a modem at the
receiving location. These converted signals can be transmitted over the cable systems, telephone
lines, and other communication mediums. A modem is also used to convert an analog signal back
into digital signal. Modems are generally used to access the internet by customers of an Internet
Service Provider (ISP).

Types of Modems

There are four main types of modems:

 DSL Modem: Uses regular phone lines to connect to the internet but it is slower compared
to other types.

 Cable Modem: Sends data through TV cables, providing faster internet than DSL.

 Wireless Modem: Connects devices to the internet using Wi-Fi relying on nearby Wi-Fi
signals.

 Cellular Modem: Connects to the internet using mobile data from a cellular network not Wi-
Fi or fixed cables.

Firewalls

A firewall is a network security device that monitors and controls the flow of data between your
computer or network and the internet. It acts as a barrier, blocking unauthorized access while
allowing trusted data to pass through. Firewalls help protect your network from hackers, viruses, and
other online threats by filtering traffic based on security rules. Firewalls can be physical devices
(hardware), programs (software), or even cloud-based services, which can be offered as SaaS,
through public clouds, or private virtual clouds.

Repeater

A repeater operates at the physical layer. Its main function is to amplify (i.e., regenerate) the signal
over the same network before the signal becomes too weak or corrupted to extend the length to
which the signal can be transmitted over the same network. When the signal becomes weak, they
copy it bit by bit and regenerate it at its star topology connectors connecting following the original
strength. It is a 2-port device.

Hub

A hub is a multiport repeater. A hub connects multiple wires coming from different branches, for
example, the connector in star topology which connects different stations. Hubs cannot filter data, so
data packets are sent to all connected devices. In other words, the collision domain of all hosts
connected through Hub remains one. Also, they do not have the intelligence to find out the best
path for data packets which leads to inefficiencies and wastage.

Types of Hub

 Active Hub: These are the hubs that have their power supply and can clean, boost, and relay
the signal along with the network. It serves both as a repeater as well as a wiring center.
These are used to extend the maximum distance between nodes.

 Passive Hub: These are the hubs that collect wiring from nodes and power supply from the
active hub. These hubs relay signals onto the network without cleaning and boosting them
and can't be used to extend the distance between nodes.

 Intelligent Hub: It works like an active hub and includes remote management capabilities.
They also provide flexible data rates to network devices. It also enables an administrator to
monitor the traffic passing through the hub and to configure each port in the hub.

Bridge

A bridge operates at the data link layer. A bridge is a repeater, with add on the functionality of
filtering content by reading the MAC addresses of the source and destination. It is also used for
interconnecting two LANs working on the same protocol. It typically connects multiple network
segments and each port is connected to different segment. A bridge is not strictly limited to two
ports, it can have multiple ports to connect and manage multiple network segments. Modern multi-
port bridges are often called Layer 2 switches because they perform similar functions.

Types of Bridges

 Transparent Bridges: These are the bridge in which the stations are completely unaware of
the bridge's existence i.e. whether or not a bridge is added or deleted from the network,
reconfiguration of the stations is unnecessary. These bridges make use of two processes i.e.
bridge forwarding and bridge learning.

 Source Routing Bridges: In these bridges, routing operations is performed by the source
station and the frame specifies which route to follow. The host can discover the frame by
sending a special frame called the discovery frame, which spreads through the entire
network using all possible paths to the destination.
Switch

A switch is a multiport bridge with a buffer designed that can boost its efficiency(a large number of
ports imply less traffic) and performance. A switch is a data link layer device. The switch can perform
error checking before forwarding data, which makes it very efficient as it does not forward packets
that have errors and forward good packets selectively to the correct port only. In other words, the
switch divides the collision domain of hosts, but the broadcast domain remains the same.

Types of Switch

 Unmanaged Switches: These switches have a simple plug-and-play design and do not offer
advanced configuration options. They are suitable for small networks or for use as an
expansion to a larger network.

 Managed Switches: These switches offer advanced configuration options such

as VLANs, QoS, and link aggregation. They are suitable for larger, more complex networks
and allow for centralized management.

 Smart Switches: These switches have features similar to managed switches but are typically
easier to set up and manage. They are suitable for small- to medium-sized networks.

 Layer 2 Switches: These switches operate at the Data Link layer of the OSI model and are
responsible for forwarding data between devices on the same network segment.

 Layer 3 switches: These switches operate at the Network layer of the OSI model and can
route data between different network segments. They are more advanced than Layer 2
switches and are often used in larger, more complex networks.

 PoE Switches: These switches have Power over Ethernet capabilities, which allows them to
supply power to network devices over the same cable that carries data.

 Gigabit switches: These switches support Gigabit Ethernet speeds, which are faster than
traditional Ethernet speeds.

 Rack-Mounted Switches: These switches are designed to be mounted in a server rack and
are suitable for use in data centers or other large networks.

 Desktop Switches: These switches are designed for use on a desktop or in a small office
environment and are typically smaller in size than rack-mounted switches.

 Modular Switches: These switches have modular design that allows for easy expansion or
customization. They are suitable for large networks and data centers.

Router

A router is a device like a switch that routes data packets based on their IP addresses. The router is
mainly a Network Layer device. Routers normally connect LANs and WANs and have a dynamically
updating routing table based on which they make decisions on routing the data packets. The router
divides the broadcast domains of hosts connected through it.

Gateway

A gateway, as the name suggests, is a passage to connect two networks that may work upon
different networking models. They work as messenger agents that take data from one system,
interpret it, and transfer it to another system. Gateways are also called protocol converters and can
operate at any network layer. Gateways are generally more complex than switches or routers.

Brouter

It is also known as the bridging router is a device that combines features of both bridge and router. It
can work either at the data link layer or a network layer. Working as a router, it is capable of routing
packets across networks and working as a bridge, it is capable of filtering local area network traffic.

NIC

NIC or network interface card is a network adapter that is used to connect the computer to the
network. It is installed in the computer to establish a LAN. It has a unique ID that is written on the
chip, and it has a connector to connect the cable to it. The cable acts as an interface between the
computer and the router or modem. NIC is a layer 2 device which means that it works on both the
physical and data link layers of the network model.