Network Devices (Modem, Hub, Switch, Gateway, Ethernet Card, RJ-45, Router, Repeater, Bridge and Wi-Fi Card)

Network Devices

For the efficient working of any network, many devices are required. Some of them are discussed below:

Modem (Modulator-Demodulator)

A modem is a Peripheral device that enables a computer to transmit data over telephone or cable lines. Because ordinary telephone lines cannot carry digital information, a modem changes digital data from our computer into analog data, a format that can be carried by telephone lines. Similarly, when modem receiving data then it changes analog data back into digital data.

HUB

A Hub is a hardware device used to connect several computers together. Basically, Hubs are multislot concentrators in which a number of computers can be plugged to grow the size of the network.

Hub can be either active and passive

1. Active Hub: Active hubs Electrically amplify the signal as it moves from one connected device to another.
2. Passive Hub: Passive hub allow the signals to pass from one computer to another without any change.

Switch

A switch is a device that is used to break a network into different sub-networks or the LAN  segment, this prevents traffic overloading on the network. in simple terms,  a network switch is a small hardware device that joins multiple computers together within one Local area network. Network switches appear nearly identical to a network hub, but a switch generally contains more intelligence than a hub. We can say that a switch is an intelligent hub and is obviously more expensive than a hub.

Gateway 

Gateway is a device that connects dissimilar networks. It is capable of joining together two networks that use different base protocols. It establishes an intelligent connection between local networks and external networks with completely different structures.

Ethernet Card

Ethernet is a LAN architecture developed by Xerox Corporation. Ethernet uses a Bus or star topology and can support Data transfer rates of up to 10 Mbps. In computer for use of ethernet have to install a special type of card called Ethernet card.

Ethernet card is a kind of network adaptor and is also known as a network interface card (NIC). It supports high-speed network connections via cables. Newer internet cards are installed usually by the manufacturer inside the computers.

RJ-45 Connector

 RJ-45 stands for registered Jack 45. RJ-45 is an 8 wire connector that is used to connect computers on a local area network (LAN) especially Ethernet

Bridge

A bridge is a network device that can connect two local networks with the same standard but a different type of cable. Bridges are capable to know which computers are on which side of the bridge, so they only allow those messages that going to cross the bridge.

Router

A router is a network device that works like a bridge but can handle different protocols. In short, A router is a network device that can connect two networks with different protocols.

Repeater

When a signal travels along a cable, it tends to lose strength. A repeater is a device that regenerates a network's signal and rebroadcasts it.

Wi-Fi Card

Wi-Fi is also known as WNIC (Wireless Network Interface Card). This is an essential component for the use of wi-fi. Without a wi-fi card, any computer can not be able to access wi-fi.