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Networking Devices

The document outlines various networking devices essential for computer networks, including hubs, switches, routers, gateways, network cards, wireless access points, and modems. Each device serves a specific function, such as connecting devices, routing data, translating data formats, or enabling wireless connectivity. Understanding these devices and their roles is crucial for network administrators to ensure efficient network operation.

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26 views9 pages

Networking Devices

The document outlines various networking devices essential for computer networks, including hubs, switches, routers, gateways, network cards, wireless access points, and modems. Each device serves a specific function, such as connecting devices, routing data, translating data formats, or enabling wireless connectivity. Understanding these devices and their roles is crucial for network administrators to ensure efficient network operation.

Uploaded by

nelsonjuniorndlovu613
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Networking Devices

Computer networks require devices to provide connectivity and


functionality. Understanding how these networking devices operate
and identifying the functions they perform are essential skills for any
network administrator. The following are the commonly used
networking devices.
Hubs

Hubs are used in networks that use twisted-pair cabling to connect


devices. Hubs can also be joined together to create larger networks. Hubs
are simple devices that direct data packets to all devices connected to the
hub, regardless of whether the data package is destined for the device.
This makes them inefficient devices and can create a performance
bottleneck on busy networks. In its most basic form, a hub does nothing
except provide a pathway for the electrical signals to travel along.
Switches

Like hubs, switches are the connectivity points of an Ethernet network.


Devices connect to switches via twisted-pair cabling, one cable for each
device. The difference between hubs and switches is in how the devices
deal with the data that they receive. Whereas a hub forwards the data it
receives to all of the ports on the device, a switch forwards it only to the
port that connects to the destination device. It does this by learning the
(Media Access Control) MAC address of the devices attached to it, and
then by matching the destination MAC address in the data it receives.
Routers

In a common configuration, routers are used to create larger networks by


joining two network segments. A router derives its name from the fact that it
can route data it receives from one network onto another. When a router
receives a packet of data, it reads the header of the packet to determine the
destination address. Once it has determined the address, it looks in its
routing table to determine whether it knows how to reach the destination
and, if it does, it forwards the packet to the next hop on the route. The next
hop might be the final destination, or it might be another router.
Gateways

Any device that translates one data format to another is called a


gateway.Some examples of gateways include a router that translates data
from one network protocol to another. key point about a gateway is that
only the data format is translated,not the data itself. In many cases, the
gateway functionality is incorporated into another device.
Network Cards
Network cards, also called Network Interface Cards, are devices that enable
computers to connect to the network. When specifying or installing a NIC,
you must consider the following issues:
➤ System bus compatibility—If the network interface you are installing is an
internal device, bus compatibility must be verified. The most common bus
system in use is the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, but some
older systems might still use Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) expansion
cards.

➤ Media compatibility—The assumption is that most networks use twisted-


pair cabling, so if you need a card for coaxial or fiber-optic connections, you
must specify this. Wireless network cards are also available. To install or
configure a network interface, you will need drivers of the device, and might
need to configure it, although many devices are now plug and play
Wireless Access Points

Wireless access points (APs) are a transmitter and receiver (transceiver)


devices used to create a wireless LAN (WLAN). APs are typically a
separate network device with a built-in antenna, transmitter, and
adapter. APs use the wireless infrastructure network mode to provide a
connection point between WLANs and a wired Ethernet LAN. APs also
typically have several ports allowing a way to expand the network to
support additional clients.
Depending on the size of the network, one or more APs might be required.
Additional APs are used to allow access to more wireless clients and to
expand the range of the wireless network. Each AP is limited by a
transmissions range i.e the distance a client can be from a AP and still get a
useable signal. The actual distance depends on the wireless standard being
used and the obstructions and environmental conditions between the client
and the AP.A WAP can operate as a bridge connecting a standard wired
network to wireless devices or as a router passing data transmissions from
one access point to another.
Modems

A modem, short for modulator/demodulator, is a device that converts


the digital signals generated by a computer into analog signals that can
travel over conventional phone lines. The modem at the receiving end
converts the signal back into a format the computer can understand.
Modems can be used as a means to connect to an Internet Service
Providers or as a mechanism for dialing up to a LAN. Modems can be
internal add-in expansion cards, external devices that connect to the
serial or USB port of a system

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