Computer networking devices
Computer networking devices are units that
mediate data in a computer network.
Computer networking devices are also called
network equipment, Intermediate Systems
(IS) or InterWorking Unit (IWU).
Units which are the last receiver or generate
data are called hosts or data terminal
equipment.
List of computer networking devices
Common basic networking devices:
Repeater
Bridge
Hub
Switch
Router
Some hybrid network devices:
Multilayer Switch
Bridge Router(Brouter)
Digital media receiver
List of computer networking devices
Hardware or software components that
typically sit on the connection point of
different networks, e.g. between an internal
network and an external network:
Proxy
Firewall
Network Address Translator (NAT)
List of computer networking devices
Other hardware for establishing networks or
dial-up connections:
Multiplexer
Network Card
Modem
ISDN terminal adapter (TA)
Line Driver:
Common basic networking devices: Repeater
Network repeaters regenerate incoming
electrical, wireless or optical signals.
Repeaters repeat signals
Clean and boost digital transmission
Analog networks use amplifiers to boost signal
Repeaters only work with the physical signal
Cannot reformat, resize, or manipulate the data
Physical layer (layer 1) device
Repeaters (continued)
Repeaters (continued)
Advantages of using repeaters
Extend network physical distance
Do not seriously affect network
performance
Special repeaters connect different media
Copper to fiber
Disadvantages of using repeaters
Cannot connect different network
architectures
Token Ring and Ethernet
Cannot reduce network traffic
Do not segment the network
Repeat everything without discrimination
Number of repeaters must be limited
Repeaters are part of a collision domain
Common basic networking devices: Hub
A hub joins multiple computers (or other
network devices) together to form a single
network segment.
On this network segment, all computers can
communicate directly with each other.
A hub includes a series of ports that each
accept a network cable .
Hub
Passive hubs do not amplify the electrical
signal of incoming packets before
broadcasting them out to the network.
Active hubs, on the other hand, do perform
this amplification, as does a different type of
dedicated network device called a repeater.
Some people use the terms concentrator
when referring to a passive hub and
multiport repeater when referring to an
active hub.
Hubs connecting segments
Hub
Hubs are classified as Layer 1 (physical
layer) devices in the OSI model.
At the physical layer, hubs support little in the
way of sophisticated networking. Hubs do not
read any of the data passing through them
and are not aware of their source or
destination.
A hub simply receives incoming
Ethernet frames, regenerates the electrical
signal, and broadcasts these packets out to
all other devices on the network.
Hubs (continued)
Common basic networking devices: Bridge
In telecommunication networks, a bridge is a
product that connects a local area network
(LAN) to another local area network that uses
the same protocol (for example, Ethernet or
token ring).
Operate at the Data Link layer
Bridges
A bridge can be used to connect two similar LANs, such as two
CSMA/CD LANs.
A bridge can also be used to connect two closely similar LANs,
such as a CSMA/CD LAN and a token ring LAN.
The bridge examines the destination address in a frame and
either forwards this frame onto the next LAN or does not.
The bridge examines the source address in a frame and places
this address in a routing table, to be used for future routing
decisions.
Common basic networking devices: Bridge
A bridge connects networks and forwards frames
from one network to another.
PORTS
A B E F
BRIDGE
C D G H
Selective Forwarding
A B E F
BRIDGE
C D G H
If A sends a frame to E - the frame must be
forwarded by the bridge.
If A sends a frame to B - there is no reason to
forward the frame.
Common basic networking devices: Bridge
A bridge interconnecting a CSMA/CD LAN and a
token ring LAN.
Bridge interconnecting two identical LANs
Advantages of network bridges
Extend physical network
Reduce network traffic with minor
segmentation
Creates separate collision domains
Reduce collisions
Connect different architecture
Disadvantages of network bridges
Does not limit the scope of broadcasts
[broadcast domain cannot be controlled]
Does not scale to extremely large networks
Buffering and processing introduces delays
Bridges are more expensive than repeaters
or hubs
Common basic networking devices: Switches
A network switch is a small hardware device
that joins multiple computers together within
one local area network (LAN).
Technically, network switches operate at
layer two (Data Link Layer) of the OSI model.
Switches
A switch is a combination of a hub and a bridge.
It can interconnect two or more workstations, but like a bridge, it
observes traffic flow and learns.
When a frame arrives at a switch, the switch examines the
destination address and forwards the frame out the one necessary
connection.
•Workstations that connect to a hub are on a shared segment.
•Workstations that connect to a switch are on a switched
segment.
Common basic networking devices: Switches
Switches (continued)
Workstations connected to a shared segment of a LAN
Workstations connected to a dedicated segment of a LAN
Advantages of switches
Increase available network bandwidth
Reduced workload, computers only receive
packets intended for them specifically
Increase network performance
Smaller collision domains
Disadvantages of switches
More expensive than hubs and bridges
Difficult to trace network connectivity problems
through a switch
Does not filter broadcast traffic
Switch vs Hub
Hubs and switches are different types of network equipment that connect devices. They differ in
the way that they pass on the network traffic that they receive.
Hubs
The term ‘hub’ is sometimes used to refer to any piece of network equipment that connects PCs
together, but it actually refers to a multi-port repeater. This type of device simply passes on
(repeats) all the information it receives, so that all devices connected to its ports receive that
information.
Hubs repeat everything they receive and can be used to extend the network. However, this can
result in a lot of unnecessary traffic being sent to all devices on the network. Hubs pass on
traffic to the network regardless of the intended destination; the PCs to which the packets are
sent use the address information in each packet to work out which packets are meant for them.
In a small network repeating is not a problem but for a larger, more heavily used network,
another piece of networking equipment (such as a switch) may be required to help reduce the
amount of unnecessary traffic being generated.
Switches
Switches control the flow of network traffic based on the address information in each packet. A
switch learns which devices are connected to its ports (by monitoring the packets it receives),
and then forwards on packets to the appropriate port only. This allows simultaneous
communication across the switch, improving bandwidth.
This switching operation reduces the amount of unnecessary traffic that would have occurred if
the same information had been sent from every port (as with a hub).
Switches and hubs are often used in the same network; the hubs extend the network by
providing more ports, and the switches divide the network into smaller, less congested sections.
Switch vs Hub
When Should I Use a Hub or Switch?
In a small network (less than 30 users), a hub
(or collection of hubs) can easily cope with
the network traffic generated and is the ideal
piece of equipment to use for connecting the
users.
When the network gets larger (about 50
users), you may need to use a switch to
divide the groups of hubs, to cut down the
amount of unnecessary traffic being
generated.
Common basic networking devices: Router
A network router is a
network device with
interfaces in multiple
networks whose task is to
copy packets from one
network to another.
Routers operate at Layer 3
of the OSI Model, the
Network Layer. This is in
contrast to switches, which
operate at Layer 2 of the
OSI Model, the
Data-Link Layer
Routers
Provide filtering and network traffic control
Used on LANs and WANs
Connect multiple segments and networks
Multiple routers create an “internetwork”
Operate at the Network layer
Routers (continued)
Create a table to determine how to forward
packets
Filtering and traffic control base on logical
addresses
Routers (continued)
Routers (continued)
Routers (continued)
Advantages of routers
Can connect networks of different architecture
Token Ring to Ethernet
Choose best path through or to a network
Create smaller collision domains
Create smaller broadcast domains
Disadvantages of routers
Only work with routable protocols
More expensive than hubs, bridges, and switches
Routing table updates consume bandwidth
Increase latency due to a greater degree of
packet filtering and/or analyzing
Bridges vs Routers
Bridge: A bridge is a device that connects two segments of the same network.
The two networks being connected can be alike or dissimilar. Unlike routers,
bridges are protocol-independent. They simply forward packets without
analyzing and re-routing messages.
Router: A router is a device that connects two distinct networks. Routers are
similar to bridges, but provide additional functionality, such as the ability to
filter messages and forward them to different places based on various
criteria. The Internet uses routers extensively to forward packets from one
host to another.
Based on these definitions we can see that key difference between a bridge
and router is that a bridge does not look at protocols and a router does. A
bridge does not look at traffic for the purpose of allowing or disallowing it,
and it does not decide what to do with certain types of traffic; it simply
moves data from one network to another. Whereas a router examines
protocols and decides what to do with each packet based on defined
criteria.
The Physical Layer Connection
Application Application
Layer Layer
Presentation Presentation
Layer Layer
Session Session
Layer Layer
Transport Transport
Layer Layer
Network Network
Layer Layer
Amplification
Regeneration
Data Link Data Link
Layer Layer
Physical Physical
Hub
Layer Layer
The Data Link Connection
Application Application
Layer Layer
Presentation Presentation
Layer Layer
Session Session
Layer Layer
Transport Transport
Layer Layer
Network Network
Layer Layer
Data Link Bridge Data Link
Layer & Switch Layer
Physical Physical
Layer Layer
The Network Layer Connection
Application Application
Layer Layer
Presentation Presentation
Layer Layer
Session Session
Layer Layer
Transport Transport
Layer Layer
Network Network
Layer Router Layer
Data Link Data Link
Layer Layer
Physical Physical
Layer Layer
Hybrid network devices :Multilayer Switch
A multilayer switch (MLS) is a
computer networking device that switches on
OSI layer 2 like an ordinary network switch
and provides extra functions on higher
OSI layers.
Hybrid network devices :Brouters
A Bridge Router or brouter is a network device that
works as a bridge and as a router. The brouter routes
packets for known protocols and simply forwards all
other packets as a bridge would.
Brouters operate at both the network layer for
routable protocols and at the data link layer for non-
routable protocols.
As networks continue to become more complex, a
mix of routable and non-routable protocols has led to
the need for the combined features of bridges and
routers.
Hybrid network devices :Brouters
Brouters handle both routable and non-routable
features by acting as routers for routable protocols
and bridges for non-routable protocols.
Bridged protocols might propagate throughout the
network, but techniques such as filtering and learning
might be used to reduce potential congestion.
Brouters are used as connecting devices in the
networking system, so it acts as a bridge in a network
and as a router in an internetwork.
Hybrid network devices:Digital Media Receiver
A digital media receiver (DMR), also
commonly referred to as a media extender,
media streamer, or digital media adapter
(DMA), is a home entertainment device that
can connect to a home network to retrieve
digital media files (such as music, pictures, or
video) from a personal computer or other
networked media server and play them back
on a home theater system or TV.
Proxy server
In computer networks, a proxy server is a server (a computer system
or an application program) that acts as an intermediary for requests
from clients seeking resources from other servers.
A client connects to the proxy server, requesting some service, such
as a file, connection, web page, or other resource, available from a
different server.
The proxy server evaluates the request according to its filtering rules.
For example, it may filter traffic by IP address or protocol. If the
request is validated by the filter, the proxy provides the resource by
connecting to the relevant server and requesting the service on behalf
of the client.
A proxy server may optionally alter the client's request or the server's
response, and sometimes it may serve the request without contacting
the specified server. In this case, it 'caches' responses from the
remote server, and returns subsequent requests for the same content
directly.
Proxy server
Proxy server
Most proxies are a web proxy, allowing access to content on
the World Wide Web.
A proxy server has a large variety of potential purposes,
including:
To keep machines behind it anonymous (mainly for security).
To speed up access to resources (using caching). Web proxies
are commonly used to cache web pages from a web server.
To apply access policy to network services or content, e.g. to
block undesired sites.
To log / audit usage, i.e. to provide company employee Internet
usage reporting.
To bypass security/ parental controls.
To scan transmitted content for malware before delivery.
To scan outbound content, e.g., for data leak protection.
To circumvent regional restrictions
Proxy server
A proxy server that passes requests and replies
unmodified is usually called a gateway or sometimes
tunneling proxy.
A proxy server can be placed in the user's local
computer or at various points between the user and
the destination servers on the Internet.
A reverse proxy is (usually) an Internet-facing proxy
used as a front-end to control and protect access to a
server on a private network, commonly also
performing tasks such as load-balancing,
authentication, decryption or caching.
Firewall
A firewall is a part of a computer system or network that
is designed to block unauthorized access while permitting
authorized communications. It is a device or set of
devices that is configured to permit or deny network
transmissions based upon a set of rules and other
criteria.
Firewalls can be implemented in either hardware or
software, or a combination of both. Firewalls are
frequently used to prevent unauthorized Internet users
from accessing private networks connected to the
Internet, especially intranets.
All messages entering or leaving the intranet pass
through the firewall, which inspects each message and
blocks those that do not meet the specified security
criteria.
Firewall
Firewall
There are several types of firewall techniques:
Packet filter: Packet filtering inspects each packet passing
through the network and accepts or rejects it based on user-
defined rules. Although difficult to configure, it is fairly effective
and mostly transparent to its users.
Application gateway: Applies security mechanisms to specific
applications, such as FTP and Telnet servers. This is very
effective, but can impose a performance degradation.
Circuit-level gateway: Applies security mechanisms when a
TCP or UDP connection is established. Once the connection
has been made, packets can flow between the hosts without
further checking.
Proxy server: Intercepts all messages entering and leaving the
network. The proxy server effectively hides the true network
addresses.
Network address translation
In computer networking, network address
translation (NAT) is the process of modifying
network address information in datagram (IP)
packet headers while in transit across a traffic
routing device for the purpose of remapping
one IP address space into another.
Multiplexer
In telecommunications, a multiplexer is a
device that combines several input
information signals into one output signal,
which carries several
communication channels, by means of some
multiplex technique.
A demultiplexer is in this context a device
taking a single input signal that carries many
channels and separates those over multiple
output signals.
Network Card
A network interface controller is a
computer hardware component that connects a
computer to a computer network. The controller may
also be referred to as a network interface card,
network adapter, or a LAN adapter.
Whereas network interface controllers were
commonly implemented on expansion cards that plug
into a computer bus and known as a network
interface card, network card or LAN card, the low
cost and ubiquity of the Ethernet standard means that
most newer computers have a network interface built
into the motherboard.
Network Card
Modem
A modem (modulator-demodulator) is a
device that modulates an
analog carrier signal to encode digital
information, and also demodulates such a
carrier signal to decode the transmitted
information. The goal is to produce a signal
that can be transmitted easily and decoded to
reproduce the original digital data. Modems
can be used over any means of transmitting
analog signals, from driven diodes to radio.
Broadband Internet access
Broadband Internet access, often shortened to just
"broadband", is a high data rate connection to the
internet .
Broadband is often called "high-speed" access to the
Internet, because it usually has a high rate of data
transmission.
In general, any connection to the customer of 256
kbit/s (0.25 Mbit/s) or greater is more concisely
considered broadband Internet access.
The International Telecommunication Union
Standardization Sector (ITU-T) recommendation
I.113 has defined broadband as a transmission
capacity that is faster than primary rate ISDN, at 1.5
to 2 Mbit/s.
Broadband Internet access
Broadband Internet access--commonly
referred to as "broadband"--is high speed
Internet access.
Common types of broadband Internet
access include Digital Subscriber Line
(DSL), which runs via copper telephone
lines; cable Internet, which runs on coaxial
or fiber cables that are used primarily for
television signal; and satellite Internet, which
utilizes orbiting satellites to broadcast data
into remote regions.
Dial-up Internet access
Dial-up Internet access is a form of Internet
access that uses the facilities of the public
switched telephone network (PSTN) to
establish a dialed connection to an Internet
service provider (ISP) via telephone lines.
The user's computer or router uses an
attached modem to encode and decode
Internet Protocol packets and control
information into and from analogue audio
frequency signals, respectively.
Comparison: Speed
Broadband Internet access speeds vary greatly
between technologies, providers and line
conditions. In the United States, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) defines
broadband speeds as over 768 kilobits per second
(kbps).
Dial up is much slower than broadband with a top
speed of 56 kilobytes per second (kbps). As of
2010, many dial-up service providers add an
accelerator to their dial-up service which artificially
accelerates the line speed by compressing the data.
Comparison: Availability
Due to technology constraints, broadband is not
available in all areas. Remote areas such as
mountains or rural areas often do not have the
telecommunications framework to offer terrestrial
broadband such as cable or DSL, though satellite
service may be available.
In contrast, dial-up Internet access is available
wherever there is an analog phone. Toll charges
may apply when calling a long distance access
number.
Comparison: Cost
As of 2010, dial-up Internet access is
generally much cheaper than broadband
access, starting at $9.99 per month. Some
ISPs offer ad supported dial up for free.
Broadband prices can vary depending on
type and provider but entry level cable or
DSL service start at $19.99 a month for
either service.
