Network Devices
These are the building block of the network. The diagram shows some of components of
Computer Network.
NIC (Network interface card)
NIC is a device that helps the computer to communicate with another device. The network
interface card contains the hardware addresses used to identify the system on the network so
that data can be transferred to the correct destination.
It can support a transfer rate of 10, 100 to 1000 Mb/s.
There are two types of NIC: wireless NIC and wired NIC.
Wireless NIC: The wireless NIC contains the antenna that employs the radio wave
technology to obtain the connection over the wireless network. For example, laptop
computer contains the wireless NIC.
Wired NIC: The Wired NIC is present inside the motherboard. Cables and connectors are
used with wired NIC to transfer data.
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 Nowadays, the use of hub is obsolete, and it is replaced by more advanced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.
Switches
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.
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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.
Cables and connectors
Cable is a transmission media that transmits the communication signals. There are three types
of cables:
Twisted pair cable: It is a high‐speed cable that transmits the data over 1Gbps or more.
Coaxial cable: Coaxial cable resembles like a TV installation cable. Coaxial cable is more
expensive than twisted pair cable, but it provides the high data transmission speed.
Fibre optic cable: Fibre optic cable is a high‐speed cable that transmits the data using
light beams. It provides high data transmission speed as compared to other cables. And
also more expensive as compared to other cables.
Router
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.
A router works in a Layer 3 (Network layer) of the OSI Reference model.
A router forwards the packet based on the information available in the routing table.
It determines the best path from the available paths for the transmission of the packet.
Modem
A modem is a hardware device that allows the computer to connect to the internet over the
existing telephone line.
A modem is not integrated with the motherboard rather than it is installed on the PCI slot
found on the motherboard.
It stands for Modulator/Demodulator. It converts the digital data into an analog signal over
the telephone lines.
Reading Assignment: Find out the functions of the following devices:
A bridge
Access Point
Repeater