What is Networking Devices

Networking Devices

1.Hub  It is networking device use to connect the different computers of same network ID, it cannot stop broadcasting, it work on layer 1 of OSI model, it has single broadcast domain and single collision domain.  There are 2 types of hub :

i)Passive hub   It has 4 ports

ii)Active hub  It has 8 ports and uplink port to cascade another hub.

2. Switch  It is networking device use to connect the different computers of same network ID, it cannot stop broadcasting, it work on layer 2 , it has single broadcast domain and multiple collision domains. It is more intelligent than hub and it is use to connect the different departments. It generally has RAM(to maintain MAC address table) and 24 ports.

There are 2 types of switch :

i)Non-manageable switch   It does not have OS and it is also known as Intelligent hub.

ii) Manageable switch  It have own OS, we can assign IP address and we can create VLAN(Virtual LAN). There are 2 categories for manageable switch :

a)Layer 2 switch  It work on layer 2, it cannot stop broadcasting, it has only one IP address for the entire switch.

b)Layer 3 switch  It work on layer 3 , it can stop broadcasting, each port has own IP address, we can create multiple VLANs, it can perform the routing function but it does not have serial interface or WIC(WAN Interface Card) and Power button.

3. Router   It is more intelligent than switch, it is use to connect the different network ID, it can stop broadcasting, it generally has memory,  OS, WIC, NAT(Network Address Translation) and work on layer 3. It has multiple broadcast domains and multiple collision domains.

4. Gateway  It is more intelligent than router, it can stop broadcasting, it can connect the different network ID and also different protocol stacks(TCP/IP and IPX/SPX).

5. Bridge  It is same as switch but it has only 2 ports.

6. Brouter   It is combination of bridge and router. Some portion use physical address and some portion use logical address for connectivity. It can work on layer 2 and layer 3. It cannot stop broadcasting.

7. Repeater  It can repeat or amplify the signals. It actually send the signals with the same speed as it has received. Maximum 4 repeater can be use in a LAN as per Ethernet standard.

NOTE: MODEM, MUX(Multiplexer), PAD(Packet Assembler De-assembler), Radware, Firewall, NTBackup devices are also use in a network.