This document discusses various network hardware components used to connect devices in a network. It describes repeaters, hubs, bridges, switches, and routers. Repeaters amplify weak signals and retransmit them. Hubs provide a common connection but can become overloaded. Bridges divide large networks into smaller segments. Switches dynamically connect any two nodes to improve efficiency. Routers route data between networks and keep routing tables to determine the best transmission path.

1. NETWORK HARDWARE
COMPONENTS

2. Connecting Devices
• Repeater
• Hubs
• Bridge
• Switches
• Routers

3. a. Repeaters
• A repeater takes a weak signal from
one side, amplifies the signal, and
then sends it out from the other side.
Connecting devices

4. b. Hubs (1)
• A hub provides a common connection for
the network cables.
• The signals entering a hub are echoed to all
other ports, a phenomenon called
broadcasting. Since all the cables would be
occupied whenever a host transmits its
signals, a hub-based network would easily
get overloaded.
Connecting devices

5. b. Hubs (2)
• Note that as each signal carries a receiver
address, only the specified node will handle
the signal. Others will ignore the
broadcast.
A 4-port hub A hub used as a
wire concentrator
Symbol for a hub
Connecting devices

6. c. Bridge
• A bridge is used to divide a larger
network into smaller segments to
improve the efficiency of the
network
Connecting devices

7. c. A bridges that divides a network
into two segments
Connecting devices

8. d. Switches (1)
• A switch is a cable concentrator that
joins the network cables together
Connecting devices

9. d. Switches (2)
• A switch establishes a
connecting path
dynamically between any
two nodes.
Connecting devices

10. e. Routers (1)
• A router is a connecting device that routes
data from one network to another.
• It is inserted among two or more networks.
• Each router keeps a routing table internally
and is able to determine the best path for
signals.
• Each port in a router is either connected
to a network or another router
Connecting devices

11. e. Routers (2)
• A router is a vital equipment that connects a
Locate Area Network (LAN) to the Internet.
• The router used in a home network is called
SOHO router, broadband router or
residential gateway
Connecting devices

12. e. Routers (3)
note: A switch keeps MAC address,
whereas a router keeps IP address
Connecting devices

13. Reference:
Gateways (1)
• Gateway refers to a node on a network
that interfaces with another network of
different protocols – i.e. it translates the
data formats (not the data itself) between
the networks.
• In an organization, the gateway is the
computer that routes the traffic from a
workstation to the internet.

14. Gateways (2)
• In a home network, the gateway
refers to the router that connects to
an ISP. Therefore, the location of
default gateway refers to the IP
address of your SOHO router