BASIC NETWORK DEVICES

           Networking Devices...

v Hub

v Switch

v Repeater

v Bridge

v Router

v Gateway

v CSU/DSU

v Modem

v  Network Interface Card

v  Media Convertor

v  Firewall

v  DHCP Server

v  Multilayer Switch

v  Content Switch

v  Load Balancer

v  Multifunction Devices

v  DNS Server

v  Bandwidth Shaper

v  Proxy Server

Hub

Connects devices on an Ethernet twisted-pair network

ð  Hub does not perform any task besides signal regeneration

Switch

Connects devices on an Ethernet twisted-pair network

ð  A switch forwards data to its destination by using the MAC address embedded in each packet

Repeater

Regenerate data signals

ð  The function of a repeater provides is typically build in to other devices, such as switches .

Bridge

Connects LAN to reduce overall network traffic .

ð  A bridge enables or prevents data from passing through it by reading the MAC address.

Router

Connects   networks   together.

ð  A router uses the software-configured network address to make forwarding decisions.

Gateway

Translates from one data format to another data format.

ð  Gateway can be hardware or software-based. Any  device that  translate data format is called gateway

CSU/DSU (Channel Service Unit/Data service unit)

Translates digital signals used on a LAN to those used on WAN .

ð  CSU/DSU functionality is sometimes incorporated into other devices, such as a router with a WAN connection.

Modem (Modulator and Demodulator)

Provides  serial  communication capabilities across a phone lines.

ð  Modems modulate the digital signals into analog at the sending end and performs  the reverse function at receiving end.

Network interface card

Enables  systems to connect to the network.

ð  Network interfaces can be added in expansion cards. PCMCI  Cards, or built in interfaces.

Media convertor

Interconnects  older  technology with new technology.

ð  Hardware device that connects newer Gigabit Ethernet technologies with older 100BASE T  networks or older copper standard with fiber.

firewall

provides  controlled data access between networks.

ð  Firewall  can be hardware or software-based and are an essential  part of a networks security strategy.

DHCP Server ( Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

Automatically  distributes IP address and information.

ð  DHCP assigns all IP information, including IP address ,  subnet mask, DNS, Gateway and more...

Multilayer switch

Works as a switch and as a router.

ð   Operates on Later 2 and Layer 3 of OSI model as a switch and can perform router function.

Content switch

Forward data by application.

ð  Content switch Can be identify and forward data by its port and application. 

Load balancer

Distribute network load.

ð   Load balancing increases redundancy by distributing load to multiple servers.

Multifunction Devices

Combine network devices.

ð   Hardware devices that combine multiple network services into a single devices, reducing cost and easing administrative difficulty.

DNS Server

Provide name resolution from host names to IP address.

ð  An DNS Server answers  clients requests to translate Host name to IP address.

Band width Shaper

Manages network  bandwidth.

ð  The bandwidth shaper monitor and control bandwidth usage.

Proxy Server

Manage client requests.

ð  Servers two key network functions : increasing network performance by caching, and filtering outgoing client requests.