Frequently Used Networking Devices Are

NETWORKING DEVICES
Network devices, or networking hardware, are physical devices that are required for communication
and interaction between hardware on a computer network.
Frequently used networking devices are;
 Hub
 Switch
 Router
 Bridge
 Gateway
 Modem
 Repeater
 Access point
 Network Interface Cards
 Brouters
Hub
Hubs connect multiple computer networking devices together. A hub also acts as a repeater in that it
amplifies signals that deteriorate after traveling long distances over connecting cables. A hub is the
simplest in the family of network connecting devices because it connects LAN components with
identical protocols.
LAYER
It works on the physical layer.
Advantage:
Hubs do not perform packet filtering or addressing functions; they just send data packets to all
connected devices.
Disadvantage:
Hubs are unable to differentiate between the devices on the network.
• STANDARD: IEEE 802.3

Switch
Switches generally have a more intelligent role than hubs. A switch is a multiport device that
improves network efficiency. The switch maintains limited routing information about nodes in the
internal network, and it allows connections to systems like hubs or routers. Strands of LANs are
usually connected using switches. Generally, switches can read the hardware addresses of
incoming packets to transmit them to the appropriate destination.
LAYER
Switch works in layer 2 in most of the devices, in some devices it works in layer 3 also.
Advantage:
Switches also improve network security because the virtual circuits are more difficult to examine with
network monitors.
Disadvantage:
These are more expensive compared to the network bridges, connectivity is very difficult , these are
vulnerable to security attacks.
Standard: IEEE
Router
Routers help transmit packets to their destinations by charting a path through the sea of
interconnected networking devices using different network topologies. Routers are intelligent
devices, and they store information about the networks they’re connected to. Most routers can be
configured to operate as packet-filtering firewalls and use access control lists (ACLs). Routers, in
conjunction with a channel service unit/data service unit (CSU/DSU), are also used to translate from
LAN framing to WAN framing. This is needed because LANs and WANs use different network
protocols. Such routers are known as border routers. They serve as the outside connection of a LAN
to a WAN, and they operate at the border of your network.
Layer:
These are at the network control layer.
Advantage:
Routers establish communication by maintaining tables about destinations and local connections. A
router contains information about the systems connected to it and where to send requests if the
destination isn’t known.
Disadvantages:
They are protocol dependent devices which must understand the protocol they are forwarding,
and they are expensive compare to other network devices.
Standard : 802.lgl & 802.llb
Bridge
Bridges are used to connect two or more hosts or network segments together. The basic role of
bridges in network architecture is storing and forwarding frames between the different segments that
the bridge connects. They use hardware Media Access Control (MAC) addresses for transferring
frames. By looking at the MAC address of the devices connected to each segment, bridges can
forward the data or block it from crossing. Bridges can also be used to connect two physical LANs
into a larger logical LAN.
LAYER
Bridges work only at the Physical and Data Link layers of the OSI model.
Advantage:
Bridges filter incoming data packets, known as frames, for addresses before they are forwarded.
Disadvantage: Bridges forward broadcast frames indiscriminately, so they do not filter broadcast
traffic.
Standard: IEEE
Gateway
At the Transport layer and above, there are numerous protocols and standards from different
vendors . Gateways provide translation between networking technologies such as Open System
Interconnection (OSI) and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Because of
this, gateways connect two or more autonomous networks, each with its own routing algorithms,
protocols, topology, domain name service, and network administration procedures and policies.
LAYER
Gateway works at the layer 3 of the OSI model.

Advantages:
These provide flexibility, security, troubleshooting. Used to expand the network, protocol conversion
is done.
Disadvantages:
These are not intelligent devices, so noice prevention is not done.
Standard: IEEE
Modem
Modems (modulators-demodulators) are used to transmit digital signals over analog telephone lines.
Thus, digital signals are converted by the modem into analog signals of different frequencies and
transmitted to a modem at the receiving location. The receiving modem performs the reverse
transformation and provides a digital output to a device connected to a modem, usually a computer.
The digital data is usually transferred to or from the modem over a serial line through an industry
standard interface, RS-232.
Layer
Modems work on both the Physical and Data Link layers.
Advantages:
The main benefit of a modem is that it allows you and your devices to access the internet and
communicate with the outside world.
Standard: Bell 212A(for baud rate 600)
Disadvantages:
These can leave you vulnerable to malware and hackers can easily access to your devices,
modem can allow viruses and hackers to enter your network.
Access Point
While an access point (AP) can technically involve either a wired or wireless connection, it
commonly means a wireless device. It can operate either as a bridge connecting a standard wired
network to wireless devices or as a router passing data transmissions from one access point to
another.
LAYER
An access point works at the second OSI layer, the Data Link layer.
Advantages:
Broader range of transmission, flexible networking
Disadvantages: High cost, poor stability, inability to be used alone.
Standard: Bell 103
BROUTERS
Brouters are the combination of both the bridge and routers. They take up the functionality of
the both networking devices serving as a bridge when forwarding data between networks, and
serving as a router when routing data to individual systems. Brouter functions as a filter that
allows some data into the local network and redirects unknown data to the other network.
LAYER:
These work in the data link layer and the network layer.
ADVANTAGES:
It supports packet switching and packet filtering, these will reduce the network traffic.
DISADVANTAGES:
These are complex to manage, as they are expensive.
 NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS

Network cards also known as Network Interface Cards (NICs) are hardware devices that
connect a computer with the network. They are installed on the mother board. They are
responsible for developing a physical connection between the network and the computer.
Computer data is translated into electrical signals send to the network via Network Interface
Cards.
LAYER:
These work at the physical layer, network layer, TCP/IP layer.
ADVANTAGES:
A Network Interface cards provide a fast connection to the Internet., provide a reliable connection
to the Internet that should not vary in performance or availability if the network
DISADVANTAGES:
These are need to be configured properly in order to work properly with the network.
Standard: RJ45

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NETWORKING DEVICES

Frequently used networking devices are;

It works on the physical layer.

Hubs are unable to differentiate between the devices on the network.

• STANDARD: IEEE 802.3

These are at the network control layer.

and they are expensive compare to other network devices.

Standard : 802.lgl & 802.llb

Gateway works at the layer 3 of the OSI model.

These are not intelligent devices, so noice prevention is not done.

Modems work on both the Physical and Data Link layers.

Standard: Bell 212A(for baud rate 600)

Broader range of transmission, flexible networking

Disadvantages: High cost, poor stability, inability to be used alone.

Standard: Bell 103

These are complex to manage, as they are expensive.

 NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS

These work at the physical layer, network layer, TCP/IP layer.

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