Network Devices – Hardware devices that are used to connect computers, printers and other

electronic devices to a network are called network devices. These devices transfer data in a
fast, secure and correct way over same or different networks.

Modem – Modem is a device that enables a computer to send or receive data over telephone
or cable lines. The data stored on the computer is digital whereas a telephone line or cable
wire can transmit only analog data.
The main function of the modem is to convert digital signal into analog and vice versa.
Modem is a combination of two devices − modulator and demodulator.
The modulator converts digital data into analog data when the data is being sent by the
computer.
The demodulator converts analog data signals into digital data when it is being received by
the computer.
Depending on direction of data transmission, modem can be of these types −
 Simplex − A simplex modem can transfer data in only one direction, from digital
device to network (modulator) or network to digital device (demodulator).
 Half duplex − A half-duplex modem has the capacity to transfer data in both the
directions but only one at a time.
 Full duplex − A full duplex modem can transmit data in both the directions
simultaneously.

Ethernet Card – Ethernet card, also known as Network Interface Card (NIC), is a hardware
component used by computers to connect to Ethernet LAN and communicate with other
devices on the LAN. The earliest Ethernet cards were external to the system and needed to be
installed manually. In modern computer systems, it is an internal hardware component. The
NIC has RJ45 socket where network cable is physically plugged in.

Hub – A hub is basically a multiport repeater. A hub connects multiple wires coming from
different branches, for example, the connector in star topology which connects different
stations. Hubs cannot filter data, so data packets are sent to all connected devices. In other
words, collision domain of all hosts connected through Hub remains one. Also, they do not
have the intelligence to find out best path for data packets which leads to inefficiencies and
wastage.
Hubs can also be joined together to create larger networks. Hubs are simple devices that
direct data packets to all devices connected to the hub, regardless of whether the data package
is destined for the device. This makes them inefficient devices and can create a performance
bottleneck on busy networks.

Switch – Switch is a data link layer device that connects other devices to Ethernet networks
through twisted pair cables. It uses packet switching technique to receive, store and forward
data packets on the network. The switch maintains a list of network addresses of all the
devices connected to it.
The switch can perform error checking before forwarding data, that makes it very efficient
as it does not forward packets that have errors and forward good packets selectively to
correct port only.
On receiving a packet, it checks the destination address and transmits the packet to the correct
port. Before forwarding, the packets are checked for collision and other network errors. The
data is transmitted in full duplex mode
Data transmission speed in switches can be double that of other network devices like hubs
used for networking. This is because switch shares its maximum speed with all the devices
connected to it. This helps in maintaining network speed even during high traffic. In fact,
higher data speeds are achieved on networks through use of multiple switches.
The difference between hubs and switches is in how the devices deal with the data that they
receive. A hub forwards the data it receives to all of the ports on the device, a switch
forwards it only to the port that connects to the destination device. It does this by learning the
MAC address of the devices attached to it, and then by matching the destination MAC
address in the data it receives

Bridge – A bridge operates at data link layer. A bridge is a repeater, with add on the
functionality of filtering content by reading the MAC addresses of source and destination. It
is also used for interconnecting two LANs working on the same protocol. It has a single
input and single output port, thus making it a 2 port device.

Router – A router is typically connected to at least two LANs and the internet service
provider (ISP). It receives its data in the form of packets, which are data frames with
their destination address added.
A router is a device like a switch that routes data packets based on their IP addresses. Router
is mainly a Network Layer device. Routers normally connect LANs and WANs together and
have a dynamically updating routing table based on which they make decisions on routing
the data packets. Router divide broadcast domains of hosts connected through it.
A router derives its name from the fact that it can route data it receives from one network
onto another. When a router receives a packet of data, it reads the header of the packet to
determine the destination address. Once it has determined the address, it looks in its routing
table to determine whether it knows how to reach the destination and, if it does, it forwards
the packet to the next hop on the route. The next hop might be the final destination, or it
might be another router.
Router also strengthens the signals before transmitting them. That is why it is also
called repeater.

Gateway – Gateway is a network device used to connect two or more dissimilar networks. In
networking parlance, networks that use different protocols are dissimilar networks. A gateway
usually is a computer with multiple NICs connected to different networks. A gateway can also
be configured completely using software. As networks connect to a different network through
gateways, these gateways are usually hosts or end points of the network.
Gateway uses packet switching technique to transmit data from one network to another. In this
way it is similar to a router, the only difference being router can transmit data only over
networks that use same protocols.
Repeater – A repeater operates at the physical layer. Its job is to regenerate the signal over
the same network before the signal becomes too weak or corrupted so as to extend the length
to which the signal can be transmitted over the same network. It is a 2 port device.

Wireless Access Points – Wireless access points (APs) are a transmitter and receiver
(transceiver) device used to create a wireless LAN (WLAN). APs are typically a separate
network device with a built-in antenna, transmitter, and adapter. APs use the wireless
infrastructure network mode to provide a connection point between WLANs and a wired
Ethernet LAN. APs also typically have several ports allowing a way to expand the network to
support additional clients.

Network topology
Types of network
Protocols