Types of Network Devices — Hub, Repeater, Bridge, Switch, Router, Gateway
Network device is a piece of equipment that is connected to a network. There are many different types of network devices, each with a specific function.
- Hub : A hub is a device that connects multiple computers or other devices together. The hub is the central device in a LAN. It connects all the other devices in the LAN to each other and to the outside world.
- Repeaters : A repeater is a device that amplifies the signal so it can travel further. The repeater amplifies signals on the LAN so that they can travel longer distances without losing strength.
- Bridge : A bridge is a device that connects two networks together. The bridge filters traffic between two or more segments of a LAN so that only packets intended for specific destinations are allowed through.
- Switches : A switch is a device that allows multiple devices to share the same connection. It's another filtering device used in some networks. It allows different segments of the same LAN to be isolated from each other for security or performance reasons.
- Routers : A router is a device that forwards data packets between networks. The router connects different kinds of networks together—for example, connecting a company's internal network with its Internet service provider's network—and forwards packets between them according to their destination addresses.
- Gateways : Gateways are devices that connect two different network types together.
Let's discuss the features, functions of different network devices in detail.
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| Types of Network Devices |
HUB NETWORK DEVICE
A hub is a basic networking device that connects multiple computers or other devices together. In its simplest form, a hub contains multiple ports, which are used to connect devices together. When a device is connected to a port on the hub, it is then able to communicate with any other device that is also connected to the hub.
Advantages of Hub
- Hubs are commonly used to connect devices in a small office or home network, but they can also be used in larger networks.
- In a hub-based network, all devices are connected to the hub and can communicate with each other.
- This type of network is easy to set up and is often used in small businesses or homes.
Disadvantages of Hub
However, there are some disadvantages to using a hub-based network. One disadvantage is that
- All devices must share the same bandwidth.
- This means that if one device is using a lot of bandwidth, it can slow down the other devices on the network.
- Another disadvantage of hub-based networks is that they are not very secure.
- If one device on the network is compromised, the entire network can be at risk.
Hubs are not the only networking devices available. There are also switches, which are similar to hubs but provide more control over the traffic on the network. There are also routers, which are used to connect multiple networks together.
REPEATER NETWORK DEVICE
A repeater is a hardware device that connects two segments of a computer network. Repeaters act as signal amplifiers. They regenerate a signal that has become too weak to be reliable and retransmit it. A repeater can be used to extend the maximum distance between two nodes in a network.
Repeaters are used in both wired and wireless networks. In a wired network, repeaters are used to connect two segments of a cable. In a wireless network, repeaters are used to extend the range of a signal.
Repeaters can be used to connect two segments of a network that use different technologies. For example, a repeater can be used to connect a segment of a network that uses coaxial cable to a segment that uses fiber optic cable.
Repeaters are transparent to the data passing through them. They do not store or forward data. Repeaters simply amplify the signal so that it can be retransmitted.
BRIDGE NETWORK DEVICE
A bridge networking device is a hardware device that is used to connect two or more computer networks.
Bridges can be used to connect two LANs (Local Area Networks), or to connect a LAN to a WAN (Wide Area Network).
Bridges can also be used to connect two or more WANs.
Bridges work at the data link layer of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model. This means that they can connect two networks that use the same data link layer protocol. For example, bridges can connect two Ethernet networks, or two Token Ring networks.
However, bridges cannot connect networks that use different data link layer protocols. For example, bridges cannot connect an Ethernet network to a Token Ring network.
Bridges can be used to segment a network. This means that a bridge can be used to divide a large network into smaller networks. This can be useful if a network is getting too large or if there is a need to improve network performance.
Bridges can also be used to connect two networks that use different network layer protocols. For example, bridges can connect an Ethernet network to a Token Ring network. However, this is not as common as using bridges to connect two networks that use the same data link layer protocol.
SWITCHES NETWORK DEVICE
A switch is a computer networking device that connects network segments. Switches use packet filtering to receive, process, and forward data to the destination device.
Switches can operate at one of two layers of the OSI model: Layer 2 (Data Link Layer) or Layer 3 (Network Layer). Layer 2 switches use hardware addresses to process and forward data, while Layer 3 switches use logical addresses.
Switches can be used to create a variety of network topologies, such as star, ring, and mesh. Switches can also be used to create virtual LANs (VLANs), which segment a network into logical subnets.
Switches are an important part of any computer network. They provide a way to segment the network into smaller, more manageable pieces. Switches can also be used to create virtual LANs, which can improve network security and performance.
ROUTERS NETWORK DEVICE
Routers are devices that connect two or more computer networks. Routers use special software and hardware to forward data packets between networks. Routers use a process called routing to determine the best path for data packets to take.
Routers are often used to connect LANs (Local Area Networks) to WANs (Wide Area Networks). A router can also be used to connect two or more WANs. Routers are often used in homes and small businesses to connect to the Internet.
Routers typically have a number of ports that can be used to connect to other devices. For example, a router may have four Ethernet ports that can be used to connect to four different computers or devices.
Routers can also have a variety of other ports that can be used to connect to other types of devices, such as printers or modems. Routers may also have a port that can be used to connect to a DSL or cable modem.
Routers typically have a number of features that can be configured to control the way data packets are forwarded. For example, a router can be configured to forward data packets based on their destination IP address.
Routers can also be configured to forward data packets based on the source IP address, the type of data packet, or the port number. Routers can also be configured to forward data packets based on the time of day or the day of the week.
GATEWAYS NETWORK DEVICE
A gateway is a hardware device that sits at the edge of a network. Its primary function is to allow communication between devices on the network and devices outside the network. For example, a gateway allows a computer on a local network to communicate with a computer on the Internet.
A gateway typically contains a router, which forwards packets of data between devices on the network, and a firewall, which blocks unwanted traffic from outside the network.
SUMMARY
A hub is a device that connects multiple computers or other devices together.
A repeater is a device that amplifies the signal so it can be sent over longer distances. A bridge is a device that connects two or more computer networks together.
A switch is a device that allows different computers on the same network to communicate with each other by switching traffic between them.
A router is a device that forwards data packets between computer networks. Gateways are devices that connect two dissimilar networks, such as one using Ethernet and another using Wi-Fi.
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