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Networking Devices

The document discusses different networking devices such as hubs, switches, routers, bridges, modems, and repeaters. It provides details on their functions: hubs broadcast data to all ports, switches filter and forward to intended ports, routers direct traffic between networks, bridges connect network segments, modems modulate digital to analog signals, and repeaters amplify signals to cover longer distances.

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Alexander Phiri
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
105 views

Networking Devices

The document discusses different networking devices such as hubs, switches, routers, bridges, modems, and repeaters. It provides details on their functions: hubs broadcast data to all ports, switches filter and forward to intended ports, routers direct traffic between networks, bridges connect network segments, modems modulate digital to analog signals, and repeaters amplify signals to cover longer distances.

Uploaded by

Alexander Phiri
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Networking Devices

Different networking devices

Different networking devices have different roles to play in a computer


network.
These network devices also work at different segments of a computer
network performing different works.
We’ll talk about different networking devices like a switch, router, hub,
bridge etc.
Computer networking devices are known by different names such as
networking devices, networking hardware, network equipment etc.
However, all of the names mean the same but have got different purposes. 
Network Hub:

Network Hub is a networking device which is used to connect multiple


network hosts.
A network hub is also used to do data transfer. The data is transferred in terms
of packets on a computer network. So when a host sends a data packet to a
network hub, the hub copies the data packet to all of its ports connected to.
Like this, all the ports know about the data and the port for whom the packet is
intended, claims the packet.
However, because of its working mechanism, a hub is not so secure and safe.
Moreover, copying the data packets on all the interfaces or ports makes it
slower and more congested which led to the use of network switch.
Cont’d
There are two types of HUB
Passive HUB:- It forwards the data signal from all ports except the port
on which signal arrived. It doesn’t interfere in data signal.
Active HUB:- It also forwards the data signal from all ports except the
port on which signal arrived. But before forwarding, it improves the
quality of data signal by amplifying it. Due to this added features active
HUB is also known as repeaters.
Cont’d
Network Switch

Like a hub, a switch also works at the layer of LAN (Local Area Network)
but you can say that a switch is more intelligent than a hub.
While hub just does the work of data forwarding, a switch does ‘filter and
forwarding’ which is a more intelligent way of dealing with the data
packets.
Cont’d
So, when a packet is received at one of the interfaces of the switch, it
filters the packet and sends only to the interface of the intended receiver.
For this purpose, a switch also maintains a CAM (Content Addressable
Memory) table and has its own system configuration and memory.
CAM table is also called as forwarding table or forwarding information
base (FIB).
Cont’d
Switches support three methods of switching.

Store and Forward


Cut and Through
Fragment Free
Store and Forward

This is the basic mode of switching.


In this mode Switch buffers entire frame into the memory and run FCS
(Frame Check Sequence) to ensure that frame is valid and not corrupted.
A frame less than 64 bytes and higher than 1518 bytes is invalid. Only
valid frames are processed and all invalid frames are automatically
dropped.
Among these three methods, this method has highest latency. Latency is
the time taken by device in passing frame from it.
Cut and Through

This has lowest latency. In this method, Switch only reads first six bytes
from frame after the preamble.
These six bytes are the destination address of frame. This is the fastest
method of switching. This method also process invalid frames. Only
advantage of this method is speed.
Fragment Free

This is a hybrid version of Store and Forward method and Cut and


Through method.
It takes goodies from both methods and makes a perfect method for
switching.
It checks first 64 bytes of frame for error. It processes only those frames
that have first 64bytes valid.
Any frame less than 64 bytes is known as runt. Runt is an invalid frame
type. This method filters runt while maintaining the speed.
Modem

A Modem is somewhat a more interesting network device in our daily life.


So if you have noticed around, you get an internet connection through a
wire (there are different types of wires) to your house. This wire is used to
carry our internet data outside to the internet world.
However, our computer generates binary data or digital data in forms of 1s
and 0s and on the other hand, a wire carries an analog signal and that’s
where a modem comes in.
A modem stands for (Modulator + Demodulator).
That means it modulates and demodulates the signal between the digital
data of a computer and the analog signal of a telephone line.
Network Router

A router is a network device which is responsible for routing traffic from


one to another network.
These two networks could be a private company network to a public
network.
You can think of a router as a traffic police who directs different network
traffic to different directions.
Cont’d
Basically routers are used :-

To connect different network segments.


To connect different network protocols such as IP and IPX.
To connect several smaller networks into a large network (known as
internetwork)
To break a large network in smaller networks (Known as subnet usually created
to improve the performance or manageability)
To connect two different media types such as UTP and fiber optical.
To connect two different network architectures such as token ring and Ethernet.
To connect LAN network with Telco company’s office (Known as DTE device).
To access DSL services (known as DSL Router).
Bridge

If a router connects two different types of networks, then a bridge


connects two subnet-works as a part of the same network. 
You can think of two different labs or two different floors connected by a
bridge.
Cont’d
Types of bridges

Local Bridge :- This bridge connects two LAN segments directly. In


Ethernet Implementation it is known as Transparent bridge. In Token Ring
network it is called Source-Routed bridge.
Cont’d
Remote Bridge :- This bridge connects with another bridge over the
WAN link.
Cont’d
Wireless Bridge :- This bridge connects with another bridge without
wiring between them.
Repeater

A repeater is an electronic device that amplifies the signal it receives.


In other terms, you can think of repeater as a device which receives a
signal and retransmits it at a higher level or higher power so that the signal
can cover longer distances.
For example, inside a college campus, the hostels might be far away from
the main college where the ISP line comes in.
If the college authority wants to pull a wire in between the hostels and
main campus, they will have to use repeaters if the distance is much
because different types of cables have limitations in terms of the distances
they can carry the data for.

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