Computer Network Hardware and software devices
Modem
Modem stands for „MOdulator DEModulator‟. It refers to a device used for conversion
between analog signals and digital bits. We know computers store and process data in
terms of 0s and 1s. However, to transmit data from a sender to a receiver, or while
browsing the internet, digital data are converted to an analog signal and the medium (be
it free-space or a physical media) carries the signal to the receiver. There are modems
connected to both the source and destination nodes. The modem at the sender‟s end acts
as a modulator that converts the digital data into analog signals. The modem at the
receiver‟s end acts as a demodulator that converts the analog signals into digital data for
the destination node to understand. Figure 10.8 shows connectivity using a modem.
Network Interface Card
Ethernet card, also known as Network Interface Card (NIC card in short) is a network
adapter used to set up a wired network. It acts as an interface between computer and the
network. It is a circuit board mounted on the motherboard of a computer as shown in
Figure. The Ethernet cable connects the computer to the network through NIC. Ethernet
cards can support data transfer between 10 Mbps and 1 Gbps (1000 Mbps). Each NIC
has a MAC address, which helps in uniquely identifying the computer on the network.
RJ45
eight-pin connector that is used exclusively with Ethernet cables for networking. It is a
standard networking interface that can be seen at the end of all network cables.
Basically, it is a small plastic plug that fits into RJ-45 jacks of the Ethernet cards present
in various computing devices.
Repeater
Data are carried in the form of signals over the cable. These signals can travel a
specified distance (usually about 100 m). Signals lose their strength beyond this limit
and become weak. In such conditions, original signals need to be regenerated.
A repeater is an analog device that works with signals on the cables to which it is
connected. The weakened signal appearing on the cable is regenerated and put back on
the cable by a repeater.
Hub
An Ethernet hub is a network device used to connect different devices through wires.
Data arriving on any of the lines are sent out on all the others. The limitation of Hub is
that if data from two devices come at the same time, they will collide.
Switch
A switch is a networking device that plays a central role in a Local Area Network
(LAN). Like a hub, a network switch is used to connect multiple computers or
communicating devices. When data arrives, the switch extracts the destination address
from the data packet and looks it up in a table to see where to send the packet. Thus, it
sends signals to only selected devices instead of sending to all. It can forward multiple
packets at the same time. A switch does not forward the signals which are noisy or
corrupted. It drops such signals and asks the sender to resend it.
Ethernet switches are common in homes/offices to connect multiple devices thus
creating LANs or to access the Internet.
Aspects Hub Switch
Definition Hub is an electronic The switch is an advanced version
device that helps us to of the Hub which sends the
connect multiple network message to a device that needs or
devices so we can requests it.
exchange data.
Layer Physical Layer Data Link Layer
Speed 10 Mbps 10/100 Mbps, 1 Gbps
Data Electrical Signal or Bits Frame (L2 Switch), Frame and
Transmission Packet (L3 Switch)
Ports 4/12 ports 24/48 ports
Functionality The functionality of a The functionality of a switch is to
Hub is to connect various connect multiple devices and
computers to a single manage ports and VLAN security
network. settings.
Addresses MAC addresses MAC addresses
Transmission Hubs always perform Firstly they broadcast, then
Type frame flooding, it may be unicast and multicast.
unicast, multicast, and
broadcast.
Connectivity LAN LAN
Device Type Passive Device (without Active Device (with software),
software) Networking device
Transmission Half duplex Half/ Full duplex
Mode
Broadcast One broadcast domain One broadcast domain (unless
Domain VLAN is implemented)
Necessary for No No
Internet
Connection?
Device Non Intelligent Device Intelligent Device
Category
Aspects Hub Switch
Manufacture Oracle, Cisco, and Sun D-link and Cisco
system
Spanning Tree No Spanning tree Many spanning tree
Collision During the setup In a Duplex switch, no collision
collisions occur in hubs occurs.
Usages Rarely used nowadays Widely used
Repeater It can function as a It cannot function as a repeater
Functionality repeater
Table It can‟t learn and store Special memory used in the
the MAC address switch called CAM table, which
is managed by specialized
hardware chips called ASIC
(Application Specific integrated
chips)
Hackable Difficult to hack Easy to hack
Router
A router is a network device that can receive the data, analyse it and transmit it to other
networks. A router connects a local area network to the internet. Compared to a hub or a
switch, a router has advanced capabilities as it can analyse the data being carried over a
network, decide/alter how it is packaged, and send it to another network of a different
type. For example, data has been divided into packets of a certain size. Suppose these
packets are to be carried over a different type of network which cannot handle bigger
packets. In such a case, the data is to be repackaged as smaller packets and then sent
over the network by a router.
Gateway
As the term “Gateway” suggests, it is a key access point that acts as a “gate” between an
organisation's network and the outside world of the Internet Gateway serves as the entry
and exit point of a network, as all data coming in or going out of a network must first
pass through the gateway in order to use routing paths. Besides routing data packets,
gateways also maintain information about the host network's internal connection paths
and the identified paths of other remote networks. If a node from one network wants to
communicate with a node of a foreign network, it will
pass the data packet to the gateway, which then routes it to the destination using the best
possible route.
Reference:
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