3. Router:
A router is a device used by billions of people to forward
data packets along a given network. A router is commonly
connected to two different networks, such as LAN (Local
Area Network) or WAN (Wide Area Network). Routers are
found at gateways, the routers, two or more different
networks are connected here are it is important that they
stay connected at the gateway so data can keep passing
through to its desired location and of course, keeping you
connected to the internet. Routers are used to direct the
data to the correct location using headers. Headers are
used to determine the best route for the data to head in.
The use ‘ICMP’ which is a protocol to again determine the
best route between the two networks.
4. Features:
A router has a few Ethernet ports either on the side
or the back which allows you to connect to the
internet through the use of Ethernet Cables. If you
have a wireless router you will have the Ethernet
ports and a set of wireless antenna allowing you to
connect to your router without the need of cables.
5. Switch:
A networking switch is a device that receives a message
from a network that is connected to it and then sends that
message to the network for which the message was meant
for. They have a big part to play when large corporations
or companies have large LANS. The switch is a more
intelligent device than a hub because it can transmit for
data at a faster rate because it has many layers. Switches
may operate at more than layers of the OSI model.
Switches can be connected in more than one way such as
Ethernet, Fibre Channel, ATM, ITU-T G.hn and 802.11.
6. Hub:
• A hub is a device that connect multiple end devices to the same
network. Data packets and information sent through the
network will be able to be seen by multiple end devices due to
the hub. Hubs operate using a broadcast model. The hub would
connect the computers on a LAN.
• A hubs features are that they are Layer 1 devices in the OSI
model and are physical, they are not generally used for
sophisticated networking as they cannot do many complicated
processing of data packets. Hubs are low cost and therefore
popular among households and small businesses.
• The function of a hub is to connect end devices and send data
packets to them all, this allows them to share communication
resources like the Internet.
7. Hub and there various Functions:
• Passive hubs simply transmit and receive data from
end devices connected to the LAN.
• Active hubs receive data and then strengthen the
signal by amplifying it thus making the data packet
easier to read.
• Intelligent hubs include the functions of e other
types if hubs but also monitor traffic within the LAN
due to their processing functions.
8. Bridge:
• A network bridge is more complicated than hubs as they
process and view all content going through them. Bridges
reduce the amount of traffic in networks by dividing data
into segments. Bridges decide whether to forward
incoming data or discard it they do this by looking at the
IP IPX and NetBUEI. Bridges operate at the data link (layer
2) in the OSI model. Bridges only support one network
boundary.
• The function of an Ethernet bridge would be to inspect
each incoming Ethernet frame including the source and
destination of the MAC addresses and at time the frame
size when making forwarding decisions.
