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3.1Computer-Network-Components

Computer network components are essential devices for network installation, including NICs, hubs, switches, routers, and modems. Each component serves a specific function, such as connecting devices, managing data traffic, and enabling internet access. The document highlights the characteristics and advantages of these components, emphasizing the evolution from hubs to more efficient devices like switches and routers.

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4 views

3.1Computer-Network-Components

Computer network components are essential devices for network installation, including NICs, hubs, switches, routers, and modems. Each component serves a specific function, such as connecting devices, managing data traffic, and enabling internet access. The document highlights the characteristics and advantages of these components, emphasizing the evolution from hubs to more efficient devices like switches and routers.

Uploaded by

mrnirajbro
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer Network Components(devices)

Computer network components (devices) are the major parts which are
needed to install the software. Some important network components
are NIC, switch, cable, hub, router, and modem. Depending on the type
of network that we need to install, some network components can also
be removed. For example, the wireless network does not require a
cable.

Following are the major components required to install a network:

NIC

o NIC stands for network interface card.


o NIC is a hardware component used to connect a computer with
another computer onto a network
o It can support a transfer rate of 10,100 to 1000 Mb/s.
o The MAC address or physical address is encoded on the network
card chip which is assigned by the IEEE to identify a network
card uniquely. The MAC address is stored in the PROM
(Programmable read-only memory).

There are two types of NIC:

1. Wired NIC
2. Wireless NIC
Wired NIC: The Wired NIC is present inside the motherboard. Cables
and connectors are used with wired NIC to transfer data.

Wireless NIC: The wireless NIC contains the antenna to obtain the
connection over the wireless network. For example, laptop computer
contains the wireless NIC.

Hub

A Hub is a hardware device that divides the network connection among


multiple devices. When computer requests for some information from a
network, it first sends the request to the Hub through cable. Hub will
broadcast this request to the entire network. All the devices will check
whether the request belongs to them or not. If not, the request will be
dropped.

The process used by the Hub consumes more bandwidth and limits the
amount of communication. Nowadays, the use of hub is obsolete, and it
is replaced by more advanced computer network components such as
Switches, Routers.

Switch

A switch is a hardware device that connects multiple devices on a


computer network. A Switch contains more advanced features than
Hub. The Switch contains the updated table that decides where the
data is transmitted or not. Switch delivers the message to the correct
destination based on the physical address present in the incoming
message. A Switch does not broadcast the message to the entire
network like the Hub. It determines the device to whom the message is
to be transmitted. Therefore, we can say that switch provides a direct
connection between the source and destination. It increases the speed
of the network.

Router

o A router is a hardware device which is used to connect a LAN


with an internet connection. It is used to receive, analyze and
forward the incoming packets to another network.
o A router works in a Layer 3 (Network layer) of the OSI
Reference model.
o A router forwards the packet based on the information available
in the routing table.
o It determines the best path from the available paths for the
transmission of the packet.

Advantages of Router:

o Security: The information which is transmitted to the network


will traverse the entire cable, but the only specified device which
has been addressed can read the data.
o Reliability: If the server has stopped functioning, the network
goes down, but no other networks are affected that are served
by the router.
o Performance: Router enhances the overall performance of the
network. Suppose there are 24 workstations in a network
generates a same amount of traffic. This increases the traffic
load on the network. Router splits the single network into two
networks of 12 workstations each, reduces the traffic load by
half.
Modem

o A modem is a hardware device that allows the computer to


connect to the internet over the existing telephone line.
o A modem is not integrated with the motherboard rather than it is
installed on the PCI slot found on the motherboard.
o It stands for Modulator/Demodulator. It converts the digital
data into an analog signal over the telephone lines.

Based on the differences in speed and transmission rate, a modem can


be classified in the following categories:

o Standard PC modem or Dial-up modem


o Cellular Modem
o Cable modem

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