Networking devices

2.  Network adapter is a device that enables a computer to talk
with other computer/network. Using unique hardware
addresses (MAC address) encoded on the card chip, the
data-link protocol employs these addresses to discover other
systems on the network so that it can transfer data to the
right destination.
 There are two types of network cards: wired and wireless.
The wired NIC uses cables and connectors as a medium to
transfer data, whereas in the wireless card, the connection is
made using antenna that employs radio wave technology. All
modern laptop computers incorporated wireless NIC in
addition to the wired adapter.

3. Network Card Speed
 Network Interface card, one of the main computer network
components, comes with different speeds, 10Mbps, 100Mbps, and
1000Mbps, so on. Recent standard network cards built with
Gigabit (1000Mbps) connection speed. It also supports to connect
slower speeds such as 10Mbps and 100Mbps. However, the speed
of the card depends on your LAN speed.
 For example, if you have a switch that supports up to 100Mbps,
your NIC will also transfer a data with this same speed even
though your computer NIC has still the capability to transfer data
at 1000Mbps (1Gbps). In modern computers, network adapter is
integrated with a computer motherboard. However if you want
advanced and fast Ethernet card, you may buy and install on your
computer using the PCI slot found on the motherboard (desktop)
and ExpressCard slots on laptop .

5.  Hub is a device that splits a network connection into multiple
computers. It is like a distribution center. When a computer
request information from a network or a specific computer, it
sends the request to the hub through a cable. The hub will
receive the request and transmit it to the entire network.
Each computer in the network should then figure out
whether the broadcast data is for them or not.
 Currently Hubs are becoming obsolete and replaced by more
advanced communication devices such as Switchs and
Routers.

7.  Switch is a telecommunication device grouped as one of
computer network components. Switch is like a Hub but built
in with advanced features. It uses physical device addresses
in each incoming messages so that it can deliver the
message to the right destination or port.
 Like Hub, switch don’t broadcast the received message to
entire network, rather before sending it checks to which
system or port should the message be sent. In other words
switch connects the source and destination directly which
increases the speed of the network. Both switch and hub
have common features: Multiple RJ-45 ports, power supply
and connection lights.

9.  When we talk about computer network components, the
other device that used to connect a LAN with an internet
connection is called Router. When you have two distinct
networks (LANs) or want to share a single internet
connection to multiple computers, we use a Router.
 In most cases, recent routers also include a switch which in
other words can be used as a switch. You don’t need to buy
both switch and router, particularly if you are installing small
business and home networks.
 There are two types of Router: wired and wireless. The
choice depends on your physical office/home setting, speed
and cost.

11.  A modem enables you to connect your computer to the
available internet connection over the existing telephone
line. Like NIC, Modem is not integrated with a computer
motherboard. It comes as separate part which can be
installed on the PCI slots found on motherboard.
 A modem is not necessary for LAN, but required for internet
connection such as dial-up and DSL.
 There are some types of modems, which differs in speed and
transmission rate. Standard PC modem or Dial-up modems
(56Kb data transmission speed), Cellular modem (used in a
laptop that enables to connect while on the go), cable
modem (500 times faster than standard modem) and DSL
Modems are the most popular.

13.  Firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls
the incoming and outgoing network traffic based on
predetermined security rules.
 A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted, secure
internal network and another outside network, such as the
Internet, that is assumed not to be secure or trusted.
 Firewalls are often categorized as either network firewalls or host-
based firewalls. Network firewalls are a software appliance running
on general purpose hardware or hardware-based firewall
computer appliances that filter traffic between two or more
networks. Host-based firewalls provide a layer of software on one
host that controls network traffic in and out of that single
machine.
 Firewall appliances may also offer other functionality to the
internal network they protect such as acting as a DHCP or VPN
server for that network.

15.  Cisco IOS Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) is an inline,
deep-packet inspection feature that effectively mitigates a
wide range of network attacks. A component of the Cisco
IOS Integrated Threat Control framework and
complemented by Cisco IOS Flexible Packet Matching
feature, Cisco IOS IPS provides your network with the
intelligence to accurately identify, classify, and stop or block
malicious traffic in real time.

16. Benefits
 Increased network availability -- Provides networkwide,
distributed protection from many attacks, exploits, worms, and
viruses
 Faster remediation -- Pinpoints the source of network attacks
faster and takes corrective actions closest to the attack
 Deployment flexibility -- Offers inline inspection of traffic
through any combination of the router's LAN and WAN interfaces
with field-customizable worm and attack signature sets and event
actions that adjust automatically based on risk level
 Comprehensive threat protection -- Works with Cisco IOS
Firewall, control-plane policing, and other Cisco IOS Software
security features

18.  It is a software/Hardware capable of authenticating and
authorizing users and devices that are connected to a
network.
 It is a centralized based authentication process similar to the
Cisco’sAAA/ACS
 The model of deploying an ACS or ISE server in the network
is said to be a part of Cisco’sTrust Sec Model

20.  Get advanced threat defense, advanced malware protection, application
visibility and control, insightful reporting, and secure mobility. The Cisco
Web Security Appliance (WSA) combines all of these forms of protection
and more in a single solution. The WSA also helps to secure and control
web traffic, while simplifying deployment and reducing costs.
 The Web Security Appliance gives you complete control over how your
users access the Internet. By identifying hundreds of applications and
more than 150,000 micro-applications, our appliance helps your
administrators create highly granular policies.
 Specific features and applications, such as chat, messaging, video, and
audio can be:
 Allowed
 Restricted with time and bandwidth limits
 Blocked according to your requirements
 You no longer need to block entire websites.

22.  Cisco Secure Access Control Server (ACS) is an access policy
control platform that helps you comply with growing regulatory
and corporate requirements. By integrating with your other access
control systems, it helps improve productivity and contain costs. It
supports multiple scenarios simultaneously, including:
 Device administration: Authenticates administrators, authorizes commands,
and provides an audit trail
 Remote Access: Works with VPN and other remote network access devices to
enforce access policies
 Wireless: Authenticates and authorizes wireless users and hosts and enforces
wireless-specific policies
 Network admission control: Communicates with posture and audit servers to
enforce admission control policies

23.  NOTE: This product is no longer being sold and might not be
supported.

24. • Prior to wireless network, setting up a computer network in a
business, home or school often required many cables in
order to deliver network access to all of the network enable
devices in the building.
• With the creation of WAP, network users are now able to add
devices that access the network with few or no cable.
• A WAP normally connects directly to a wires Ethernet
connection and the WAP then provides wireless connections
using radio frequency for other devices to utilized that wired
connection.

26.  As the number of client using wireless infrastructure
continues to increase, so does the need for continuous
wireless coverage, wireless network uptime and
centralized management and monitoring.
 A WLAN controller is a hardware device that provides a
single point of management for all of the access points
in your network in a simplified manner.
 Those access point connect to the WLAN controller,
which then connect to your wireless network.
 A WLAN controller communicates with the access
points over any Ethernet or IP network using
lightweight access point protocol (LWAPP), which lets
you control several wireless access points at once.

28.  A terminal server commonly provides out-of-band access
for multiple devices. A terminal server is a router with
multiple, low speed, asynchronous ports that are
connected to other serial devices, for example, modems
or console ports on routers or switches.
 The terminal server allows you to use a single point to
access the console ports of many devices. A terminal
server eliminates the need to configure backup scenarios
like modems on auxiliary ports for every device. You can
also configure a single modem on the auxiliary port of the
terminal server, to provide dial-up service to the other
devices when network connectivity fails.

30.  IP phone uses Voice over IP technologies for placing and
transmitting telephone calls over an IP network, such as the
Internet, instead of the traditional public switched telephone
network