LTEC 4560 Summer 2012 Justin Kappel Networking Components

Hub  What is a hub?  A machine acting as a central relay point on a star topology  How does it work?  Think of a hub as a repeater. It basically takes all traffic on an Ethernet network and rebroadcasts it.  Explain when and where the device might be used.  With the cost of switches declining you probably wouldn’t want to use a hub. You could still use a hub to network computer together for file sharing or gaming.  Cost  They are relatively inexpensive now ranging from $12 to $100

Hub (Diagram)

Switch  What is a switch?  A machine acting as a central relay point. The same as a hub but it’s intelligent.  How does it work?  A switch works much like a hub, but more efficiently. The switch will learn about the network and route network traffic only to the intended user.  Explain when and where the device might be used.  Switches are the backhaul to many networks and are used by almost every company that has a network.  Cost  They are relatively inexpensive now ranging from $20 to $1,000s depending on network size

Switch (Diagram)

Router  What is a router?  A machine acting as a central relay point on a network. It forwards data packets between networks.  How does it work?  It takes data lines from different networks and routes data to the intended destination. It utilizes routing tables, routing policies, and packet headers to decipher the true destination of data. Works on OSI Layer 3.  Explain when and where the device might be used.  Many of us own routers and use them to connect to the internet via an ISP (Internet Service Provider)  Cost  They are relatively inexpensive now ranging from $20 to $1,000s depending on network size

Router (Diagram)

Bridge  What is a bridge?  (a). A local area network (LAN) device that connects network nodes. (b). A machine acting as a central relay point on a star network topology using MAC address  How does it work?  A bridge operates on Layer 2 of the OSI model. It operates much like a switch but usually only supports one network boundary. It essentially connects multiple networks to form one. You can create a network bridge to manage your lan segments and create a single subnet for the entire network.  Explain when and where the device might be used.  This would be used in most small business and home offices because of the simplicity. However it’s usually not a hardware bridge.  Cost  They are relatively inexpensive now ranging from $20 to $100 depending on network size. For large business this could be even higher.

Bridge (Diagram)

Gateway  What is a gateway?  Is a device that that communicates with your ISP (Internet Service Provider) for you and brings in data from the ISPs routers.  How does it work?  Well generally your home modem acts as your gateway. It request an IP address from your ISP.  Explain when and where the device might be used.  This is used to connect to the internet just about everyone uses a gateway to connect to the internet.  Cost  They are relatively inexpensive now ranging from $30 to $100 depending on network size. For large business this could be even higher.

Gateway (Diagram)

Firewall  What is a firewall?  A security feature on a network that filters unwanted traffic from entering a network or a computer  How does it work?  It basically filters/inspects the information coming into your network from the outside. It works much like a firewall in a house. It keeps unwanted traffic out or from spreading.  Explain when and where the device might be used.  This device or software is used on most home network and almost all business networks. You should always have a firewall to prevent unauthorized access to your network.  Cost  They are relatively inexpensive ranging from free for software version to hundred of thousands of dollars for physical devices.

Firewall (Diagram)

Wireless AP  What is a wireless ap?  A device used to connect wireless nodes and relay traffic among these nodes  How does it work?  These devices allow a wired network to become wireless by allowing Wi-Fi signals to be transmitted. Devices that are equipped to pickup these signals can connect to the network.  Explain when and where the device might be used.  This is used in most homes and business’ today. You can find them in Starbucks and even rest stops of major highways.  Cost  They are relatively inexpensive now ranging from $30 to $100 depending on network size. For large business this could be even higher.

Wireless AP (Diagram)

Entire Network (Diagram)