Chapter 2: Network Devices
Explain the uses, advantages, and
disadvantages of repeaters
Explain the uses, advantages, and
disadvantages of hubs
Define wireless access points
Define network segmentation
Explain network segmentation using bridges
Explain network segmentation using switches
Explain network segmentation using routers
Explain network segmentation using brouters
and gateways
Length of cable used influence the quality
of communication
Attenuation
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
Generic connection device
◦ Physical layer
Connect several networking cables together
Active hubs
◦ Multiport repeaters
Passive hubs
Hubs and topology
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
Disadvantages of using repeaters
Do not segment the network
◦ Repeat everything without discrimination
◦ Number of repeaters must be limited
Repeaters are part of a collision domain
Wireless local area networks (WLANs)
Wireless access points provide cell-based
areas
◦ Contains radio transceiver
◦ Function like a hub
◦ Bandwidth is shared
◦ May also function as a wireless repeater
Wireless clients
Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision
Detection (CSMA/CD)
Problems occur with too many nodes on the
same network segment or collision domain
Collision
◦ Back off algorithm
◦ Back off period
Segmentation
◦ Collisions and retransmissions are reduced
◦ Contention for bandwidth is reduced
Operate at the Data Link layer
Forward or drop frames
Cannot filter broadcasts
MAC to segment # table
MAC to segment # table initial development
Also called learning bridges
Build a table of MAC addresses as frames
arrive
Ethernet networks use transparent bridges
Token Ring networks use source-routing
bridges
Used in Token Ring networks
Rely of source of the frame transmission
Explorer frames
Connect networks with different network
architecture
Example:
◦ Token ring connecting to Ethernet
Advantages of using a bridge
◦ Extend physical network
◦ Reduce network traffic with minor segmentation
◦ Creates separate collision domains
◦ Reduce collisions
◦ Connect different architecture
Disadvantages of using bridges
◦ Slower that repeaters due to filtering
◦ Do not filter broadcasts
◦ More expensive than repeaters
Operate at the Data Link layer
Increase network performance
Virtual circuits between source and
destination
Micro segmentation
Multiple virtual circuits are called “switched
bandwidth”
Between two computers using a switch two
collision domains are created each with
dedicated bandwidth
Between two hubs using a switch two
collision domains are created each with
shared bandwidth
Filter based on MAC addresses
Build tables in memory
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
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
Create a table to determine how to forward
packets
Filtering and traffic control base on logical
addresses
MAC addresses
◦ Data Link layer application
◦ Used by switches, bridges, and routers
◦ Used for directly connected devices
Logical addresses
◦ Network and transport protocols dictate the
format of the logical network layer address
◦ TCP/IP, IPX/SPX
◦ IP addresses are assigned manually or by
software
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
Hybrid device
Functions as a router for routable protocols
Functions as a bridge for non-routable
protocols
Operates at Data Link and Network layers
A gateway is a combination of hardware and
software
Translate between different protocol suites
Operates on all 7 layers of the OSI model
Most negative on network performance
◦ Latency
Network administrators use devices to control
and extend the usable size of a network
These devices include repeaters, hubs,
bridges, switches, routers, brouters, and
gateways
Repeaters work against attenuation by
cleaning and repeating signals that they
receive on a network
Repeaters work at the Physical layer of the OSI
model
They cannot connect different network
architectures
Repeaters do not reduce network traffic or segment
the network
A hub ties several networking cables together to
create a link between different stations on a
network
An active hub has its own electrical power and acts
as a repeater, whereas a passive hub provides no
signal regeneration
Hubs operate at the Physical layer of the OSI model
and do not segment the network
Network segmentation is the process of isolating
hosts onto smaller segments to reduce the
possibility of collisions
Bridges and switches are two devices
commonly used to segment networks
Bridges provide network segmentation by
examining the MAC address that is sent in
the data frame
Bridges can use transparent bridging or
source-route bridging to determine which
segment includes a specific physical
address
Bridges operate at the Data Link layer of the
OSI model
Switches increase network performance by
reducing the number of frames transmitted to
the rest of a network
They do this by opening a virtual circuit
between the source and the destination
Switches operate at the Data Link layer of the
OSI model
Routers operate at the Network layer of the
OSI model and provide filtering and network-
traffic control on LANs and WANs
They can connect multiple segments and
networks
On a TCP/IP network, routers use IP addresses
to route packets to the correct network
segment
Routers use information from routing tables to
move packets from one network to another
A brouter is a hybrid device that functions
both as a bridge for non-routable protocols
and as a router for routable protocols
Brouters operate at both the Data Link and
Network layers
Gateways are usually a combination of
hardware and software and are used to
translate between different protocols
They usually operate at layer 4 and above in
the OSI model
