Network components
Computer networks components comprise both physical parts as
well as the software required for installing computer networks.
The hardware components are the server, client, peer,
transmission medium, and connecting devices. The software
components are operating system and protocols.
Hardware Components
Servers −Servers are high-configuration computers that manage
the resources of the network. The network operating system is
typically installed in the server and so they give user accesses to
the network resources. Servers can be of various kinds: file
servers, database servers, print servers etc.
Firewall: A software or hardware component that monitors and
controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on
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predetermined security rules.
Cable: A medium that carries data between computers on a
network .
Network Interface Card (NIC): A hardware component that
connects a computer to a network. It can support a transfer rate
of 10,100 to 1000 Mb/s. 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.
Modem: A hardware device that modulates and demodulates
signals between digital devices and analog devices.
Clients − Clients are computers that request and receive service
from the servers to access and use the network resources.
Peers − Peers are computers that provide as well as receive
services from other peers in a workgroup network.
Transmission Media − Transmission media are the channels
through which data is transferred from one device to another in
a network. Transmission media may be guided media like
coaxial cable, fibre optic cables etc; or maybe unguided media
like microwaves, infra-red waves etc.
Connecting Devices − Connecting devices act as middleware
between networks or computers, by binding the network media together.
Some of the common connecting devices are:
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a. Routers: 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.
b. Bridges: A hardware component that connects two different networks
together and allows them to communicate with each other.
c. Hubs: 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.
d. Repeaters: A hardware component that receives and retransmits
signals at a higher power level, thus extending the reach of a network.
e. Gateways: A gateway is a computer on a network that provides the
interface between two applications or networks that use different protocols. They
are also used to provide a connection to the Internet. A gateway in a network
converts information from one protocol to another and then transfers it over the
web.
f. Switches: A hardware device that connects multiple devices on a
computer network. It 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.
Software Components
Networking Operating System − Network Operating Systems is typically installed
in the server and facilitate workstations in a network to share files, database,
applications, printers etc.
Examples of Networking Operating System UNIX, Linux, Microsoft Windows
Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Server 2003…
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Protocol Suite − A protocol is a rule or guideline followed by each computer for
data communication.
Examples of network protocol:
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), HTTPS (Secure
HyperText Transmission Protocol), SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), and
DNS (Domain Name System).