Mary Sizemore

* Network Components:

Assignment Three

*Hub: the central connection point in a network. Hub is used in a network that uses star topology. A sending computer transmits its signal to a hub, the hub then retransmits the signal to all other computers. A passive hub functions as a relay station that receives and retransmits signal. An active hub functions as a repeater that regenerates signal before retransmitting. (www.conniq.com)

Cost: $50-$2000

* Switch: A network switch (sometimes known as a switching hub) is a computer networking device that is used to connect devices together on a computer network by performing a form of packet switching. A switch is considered more advanced than a hub because a switch will only send a message to the device that needs or requests it, rather than broadcasting the same message out of each of its ports. (www.wikipedia.com)

$40-$4000

* Router: functions to forward packets across different networks. Router maintains a routing table. The routing table contains IP addresses of other networks routers. In a static router the routing table is configured manually, while a dynamic router can communicate with other routers and configure the routing table according to information it receives from other routers. (www.conniq.com)

* A router is used when connecting at least two networks.

* Routers can be used in a home/business where needed.

$50-$600

* Bridge: is used to connect two or more similar segments together (for example, Token-Ring to Token-Ring or Ethernet to Ethernet). A bridge has two purposes. The first is to extend the length and number of stations that a segment can support. Secondly, the bridge reduces overall traffic flow by only passing data packets that are not destined for a hardware address on a local segment. All broadcast and multicast traffic must cross a bridge - since no true destination can be known. In recent years, bridging technology has been used between dissimilar media (for example, Ethernet to FDDI), this sometimes may cause problems as we will see later. A bridge is considered an intelligent device. (www.networkingcomputing.com)

* A bridge device filters data traffic at a network boundary. Bridges reduce the amount of traffic on a local area network (LAN) by dividing it into two segments.

$20-$1000

* Gateway: is an internetworking system capable of joining together two networks that use different base protocols. A network gateway can be implemented completely in software, completely in hardware, or as a combination of both. Depending on the types of protocols they support, network gateways can operate at any level of the OSI model. Because a network gateway, by definition, appears at the edge of a network, related capabilities like firewalls tend to be integrated with it. On home networks, a broadband router typically serves as the network gateway although ordinary computers can also be configured to perform equivalent functions. (www.compnetworking.about.com)

* The gateway has two IP address. One is an external IP address assigned by your ISP (internet service provider), and the other an internal IP address that is only accessible within your network. This internal IP address is also called you default gateway IP address. All computers on your local network need to know the default gateway IP in order to access the internet. $80-$4500

* Firewall: is a software or hardware-based network security system that controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic based on applied rule set. A firewall establishes a barrier between a trusted, secure internal network and another network (e.g., the Internet) that is not assumed to be secure and trusted. Many personal computer operating systems include software-based firewalls to protect against threats from the public Internet. Many routers that pass data between networks contain firewall components and, conversely, many firewalls can perform basic routing functions. (www.wikipedia.com)

$170-$4500($26,000 for high

needs)

* Wireless AP: are specially configured devices on wireless local area networks (WLANs). Access points act as a central transmitter and receiver of wireless radio signals including Wi-Fi. APs are most commonly used to support public Internet hotspots and also on internal business networks to extend their Wi-Fi signal range. (www.compnetworking.about.com)

$230-$2000

*Network Diagram

Internet

Router

Hub

Switch

Firewall

Wireless Bridge

Game Console

Computer 1

Computer 2

Wireless AP