Home software Network Devices- Hub, Switch, Router, Bridges, Network Card.

Network Devices- Hub, Switch, Router, Bridges, Network Card.

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In this era of digital dominance and visibility there is the need for a reliable network connection to connect you with everyone else for smooth and easy work performance.

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. After covering different topics on network topologies and their advantages and disadvantages, we are here once again with a series on the network devices.

Network devices are the device used for organizing a networking, connecting to a network, routing the packets, strengthening the signals, communicating with others, surfing the web, sharing files on the network and many more.
To build a home network or connect to the other network you will need to have some common networking devices like internal or external modem, wireless router, cables, connectors and clipping tools.

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.

Networks are more than computers and wiring. They also have to be specific devices, specialized pieces of hardware that handle electrical/digital connections and perform their unique roles efficiently.

There are different network devices, listed below is the names of the network devices commonly found in today’s LANs.

Hubs

Hub

Hub is one of the basic icons of networking devices which works at physical layer and hence connect networking devices physically together. Hubs are fundamentally used in networks that use twisted pair cabling to connect devices. They are designed to transmit the packets to the other appended devices without altering any of the transmitted packets received. They act as pathways to direct electrical signals to travel along. They transmit the information regardless of the fact if data packet is destined for the device connected or not.

There are two types of Hub which includes:

  • Active Hub :- These are the hubs which have their own power supply and can clean , boost and relay the signal along the network. It serves both as a repeater as well as wiring center. These are used to extend maximum distance between nodes.
  • Passive Hub :- These are the hubs which collect wiring from nodes and power supply from active hub. These hubs relay signals onto the network without cleaning and boosting them and can’t be used to extend distance between nodes.

Bridge

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A bridge operates at data link layer. A bridge is a repeater, with add on functionality of filtering content by reading the MAC addresses of source and destination. It is also used for interconnecting two LANs working on the same protocol. It has a single input and single output port, thus making it a 2 port device.

Types of Bridges

  • Transparent Bridges :- These are the bridge in which the stations are completely unaware of the
    bridge’s existence i.e. whether or not a bridge is added or deleted from the network , reconfiguration of
    the stations is unnecessary. These bridges makes use of two processes i.e. bridge forwarding and bridge learning.
  • Source Routing Bridges :- In these bridges, routing operation is performed by source station and the frame specifies which route to follow. The hot can discover frame by sending a specical frame called discovery frame, which spreads through the entire network using all possible paths to destination.

Network Switch

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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.

On a switch, as with a hub, each computer is connected through a single line. However, the switch is smarter about where it sends data that comes in through one of its ports

A switch is a multi port bridge with a buffer and a design that can boost its efficiency (large number of  ports imply less traffic) and performance. Switch is data link layer device. Switch can perform error checking before forwarding data, that makes it very efficient as it does not forward packets that have errors and  forward good packets selectively to correct port only.

Routers

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A router is a device that routes packets from one network to another. A router is most commonly an OSI Layer 3 device. Routers divide broadcast domains and have traffic filtering capabilities

A router uses IP addresses to figure out where to send packets. If two hosts from different networks want to communicate, they will need a router between them to route packets.  It has the ability to connect dissimilar LANs on the same protocol. It also has the ability to limit the flow of broadcasts. A router primarily comprises of a hardware device or a system of the computer which has more than one network interface and routing software.

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Modems

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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.

Modem is a device which converts the computer-generated digital signals of a computer into analog signals to enable their travelling via phone lines. The ‘modulator-demodulator’ or modem can be used as a dial up for LAN or to connect to an ISP. Modems can be both external, as in the device which connects to the USB or the serial port of a computer, or proprietary devices for handheld gadgets and other devices, as well as internal; in the form of add-in expansion cards for computers and PCMCIA cards for laptops.

Brouters

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Also known as bridging router is a device which combines features of both router and bridge. They take up the functionality of the both networking devices serving as a bridge when forwarding data between networks, and serving as a router when routing data to individual systems. Brouter functions as a filter that allows some data into the local network and redirects unknown data to the other network. It is capable of filtering local area network traffic.

Network card

Network cards also known as Network Interface Cards (NICs) are hardware devices that connect a computer with the network. They are installed on the mother board. They are responsible for developing a physical connection between the network and the computer. Computer data is translated into electrical signals send to the network via Network Interface Cards.

card

They can also manage some important data-conversion function.  These days network cards are software configured unlike in olden days when drivers were needed to configure them. Even if the NIC doesn’t come up with the software then the latest drivers or the associated software can be downloaded from the internet as well.

So wherever you are and whatever computer you are using, you can rely on networking hardware to bring the world to your fingertips.

Where To Buy Network Devices in Nigeria.

Looking for where to buy any type of Network Devices in Nigeria? It is very simple and stress-free,  the best option and the smartest move is to order from an online shopping store. The best online shopping website to buy a a reliable Network device be it router, switch,hub, modem, network card, and more is Kara.com.ng. where you can order your preferred series at the best selling price in Nigeria and also enjoy fast delivery to any location in Nigeria

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