1. Networking | Hardware Components

2. | Networking | Hardware Components
What are the Hardware Components commonly found in a typical Network . . .?
Cables
Client Adapters
Hubs
Switches
Access Points
Routers
Modems
Modem Routers

3. | Networking | Hardware Components
Ethernet Cables |
When we reference Cables in Networking we are generally referring to RJ45 Ethernet Networking Cables;
Unshielded Twisted Pair Cables (UTP).
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)
These Cables are often referred to by the Standard that they adhere to i.e. Category 5 (Cat 5) or Category 6 (Cat 6).
The Cables are further distinguished with regard to they way in which they are wired;
Straight-Through (Patch)
Crossover
Due to the widespread use of Auto-Sensing LAN Ports we see very little occasions where a Crossover Cable is actually required now. Generally speaking Crossover Cables are just used when networking two PCs directly together, or when daisy-chaining Network Hubs. For all other instances Patch Cables are generally used.

4. | Networking | Hardware Components
Patch Cable
Crossover Cable

5. | Networking | Hardware Components
Ethernet Cables | UTP Cables
Solid - each Conductor is a single relatively thick Copper Wire (Solid Core)
Stranded - each Conductor consists of a number of thin Copper Wires
Solid Cable is used for infrastructure Cabling. The cable is inflexible because of its structure and the maximum length would be 100 metres. Stranded Cables have no fixed maximum length, but are generally used for short distances. The Cables are flexible, and the maximum length largely depends on Cable Quality and Shielding.
Standard Ethernet (10/100) Cables only use 4 out of the 8 Connectors, whereas Gigabit uses all 8.
10/100
Gigabit

6. | Networking | Hardware Components
Client Adapters |
There are numerous types of Network Interface Cards or Client Adapters and they are usually identified by their Type and Connection Technology;
Wireless PCI
Wireless Cardbus
Wireless USB
Wireless ExpressCard
Wireless Ethernet
Wired Ethernet
Wired USB
Wired ExpressCard
Every Network Interface Card (NIC) has a unique MAC address pointing to its Manufacturer.

7. | Networking | Hardware Components
Hub |
Hubs tie the Network together.
A Network can be extended by daisy-chaining one Hub to another.
Hubs by default echo all traffic to all Ports, so when a Packet of data arrives at one Port, it is copied to the other Ports so that all segments of the Network can see all Packets.
Switch |
Switches differ from Hubs in that they track MAC Addresses on both sides of the Network and do not echo any traffic that does not need to be echoed.
Broadcast messages are not filtered via Switches, and these are continued to be echoed to all Ports, but otherwise the Switch is intelligently filtering to ensure that only traffic destined for a particular MAC Address on a Particular Port, gets to that device.
Switches differ from Hubs in that they track MAC Addresses on both sides of the Network and do not echo any traffic that does not need to be echoed.

8. | Networking | Hardware Components
Access Point |
An Access Point is a device for adding Wireless Connectivity to an existing Wired Network.
It is clear that an Access Point is a Wireless Device But is it a Hub or a Switch?
Well it is in fact both a Hub and a Switch.
An Access Point is a device for adding Wireless Connectivity to an existing Wired Network.
It is clear that an Access Point is a Wireless Device But is it a Hub or a Switch?
Well it is in fact both a Hub and a Switch.
As Access Points are Wireless, and Wireless Bandwidth is by nature a shared resource, the Access Point (AP) is acting in this role as a Hub as it does not filter any of the Wireless Communication.
An Access Point is a device for adding Wireless Connectivity to an existing Wired Network.
It is clear that an Access Point is a Wireless Device But is it a Hub or a Switch?
An Access Point is a device for adding Wireless Connectivity to an existing Wired Network.
If however an Access Point Is connected to an existing Wired Network, then the Access Point (AP) will act like a Switch and filter Traffic accordingly. Should Client A send Data to Client B, the Access Point will filter the Data and ensure that it is not broadcasted to all Ports.
With the Advent of N Technology Routers Access Points are no longer required in a Home User environment, due to the already great Range provided.
If however an Access Point Is connected to an existing Wired Network, then the Access Point (AP) will act like a Switch and filter Traffic accordingly. Should Client A send Data to Client B, the Access Point will filter the Data and ensure that it is not broadcasted to all Ports.

9. | Networking | Hardware Components
Router |
A Router is in fact a . . .
ROUTER + ACCESS POINT + NETWORK SWITCH
In a essence the ‘Router’ Part is the Device that sits between two or more Networks and decides which IP Packets go where.
ROUTER
Network #1
Network #2

10. | Networking | Hardware Components
Router |
Whereas a Network Switch works at a MAC Address level, a Router works at an IP Address level, and it has an IP Address for each Network that it is connected to. Based on Source and Destination IP Address and the Networks to which they belong, the Router decides to which Network to forward the Packet.
Most End-User Routers, are Gateway Routers that simply connect a Local (LAN) Network with the rest of the World (WAN). Gateway Routers are usually based around Network Address Translation (NAT).
The Network Address Translation (NAT) element handles the traffic from Routable (external) IP Addresses to the non-Routable (internal) IP Addresses of a typical internal Network or LAN.
Three special Address Ranges are to be used in Local Networks (LANs) only, and they should not be forwarded to any Public Network.
Class A: 10.x.x.x Class B: x.x – x.x Class C: x.x

11. | Networking | Hardware Components
Modem |
The name ‘Modem’ derives from the functionality of the Device in that it is in essence a Modulator/Demodulator.
It is essentially a Communications Device that converts one form of a signal to another that is suitable for transmission over a Phone Line.
Typically Digital Data from a PC is converted to Analogue Data which is sent via the Phone Line and then from converted back from this Analogue Data to Digital Data again on the next PC.
Modem Routers |
A Modem Router is in fact a . . .
ROUTER + ACCESS POINT + NETWORK SWITCH + MODEM + NAT DEVICE
The WAN Port found on a typical Router is essentially replaced with a Phone Line connection Point.