A Beginner’s Guide LTEC 4550Jeff Spradlin Fall 2013

Some have exclusive purposes Some may have seen their functions integrated Discrete and Individual Units

Source: Network Hub Takes a signal and repeats it across all other ports on the device. Most hubs do not screen for error or collisions.

Source: Network Hub Ethernet Multiple computers in a collision domain Where it’s Used. Smaller, cheaper, older networks Single-direction connections Actual Retail Price: $24-$69

Source: Switch Connects messages between units Builds a working topology Learns about its environment

Different Network Segments Different Types of Networks and Mediums Where it’s Used. Home and Office Networks Effective for two-way communication Actual Retail Price: $107-$189 Source: Switch

Source: Router Directs Traffic on a Network Prioritizes Based on Protocol Forwards Messages

Different End-Units or Segments Other Routers Switches or the Gateway Where it’s Used. Everywhere. Seriously, Everywhere. Isolates Collision Domains Actual Retail Price: $62-$1,100 Source: Router

Source: Bridge Routes between groups and segments Uses MAC addressing for routing

Network segments via Ethernet Where it’s Used. Spanning tree networks Actual Retail Price: $51-$2,900 Source: Bridge

Source: Gateway Connects a LAN to a wider Network Can act as the last stop before the Internet

Source: Any other network device Can interface with multiple protocols Where it’s Used. May be integrated with Routers Used as a network Firewall Manage traffic in and out of Domain Maintain DNS Actual Retail Price: $34-$32,000 Source: Gateway

Source: way%20firewall%202%20GB%20right%20angle%20view- gallery_pop.jpg way%20firewall%202%20GB%20right%20angle%20view- gallery_pop.jpg Firewall Protects Networks External Internal Limits or blocks traffic

Physical port protection Last Stop-Gap LANs, WANs and MANs Where it’s Used. Hopefully everywhere Home computing Small business Enterprise-level framework Actual Retail Price: $0-$263,000 Source: way%20firewall%202%20GB%20right%20angle%20view- gallery_pop.jpg way%20firewall%202%20GB%20right%20angle%20view- gallery_pop.jpg Firewall

Source: P121.jpg P121.jpg Wireless Access Point Converts wired connections to wireless Direct connection Relay for existing signal

May be integrated Connect to: Ethernet Coaxial Fiber optic Transmits/receives 2.4 and 5 GHz Where it’s Used. Home Office Large-campuses Anywhere cellular doesn’t reach Underground Buildings Moria Actual Retail Price: $63-$13,000 Source: P121.jpg P121.jpg Wireless Access Point