Networking Hardware

Networking Hardware

Hubs – How they work Hubs send data from one computer to all other

computers on the network. They are low-cost and low-function and typically operate at Layer 1 of the OSI model.

Hubs – Diagram

Hub

Switches – How they work

Switches are devices that relay traffic by using a Layer 2 address. They usually contain software that supports the building of routing tables.

Switches – DiagramServer

Switch

Routers – How they work

Routers are specialized hardware devices with a tailored operating system. They are designed to relay packets between nodes in a data network. Routers operate at Layer 3 of the OSI model.

Routers – Diagram

Internet

Router Modem

Bridges – How they work

Bridges perform similar operations to switches. The key difference is that bridges are associated with a LAN device that uses a MAC address for routing.

Bridges – Diagram

Collision Domain

Bridge

Gateways – How they work

Gateways are network nodes equipped for interfacing with another network that uses different protocols. They operate at Level 3 of the OSI model.

Gateways – Diagram

Gateway

Internet

Home Laptop

Corporate/PrivateNetwork

Firewalls – How they work

Firewalls are devices used to protect a more secure network from a less secure network. Firewalls generally protect your internal LAN from the Internet. Firewalls generally operate at Layers 3 and 4 of the OSI model.

Firewalls – Diagram

Switch

Firewall

Modem

Wireless Access Points – How they work

Wireless Access Points (WAPs) are devices that allow wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other related standards.

Wireless Access Points – Diagram

WAPRouter

Complete Network Diagram

HubSwitch

Firewall

Router

Bridge

Bridge

Homelaptop

WAP

Workstation 1 Workstation 2 Workstation 3

Standalonecomputer