Network Components

By Cameron Baker

Hub

• A hub works at the physical layer (layer 1) of the OSI model• It works by connecting multiple Ethernet devices together.• A hub is a very unsophisticated device compared to a switch.

This is why a hub is sometimes called a dumb hub.• Hubs are not a very secure device because they do not read

any data that passes through and are not aware of the source or destination. It just receives incoming data and broadcasts them out to all the devices connected to it.

• A Netgear FS105 Pro Safe 5-Port Fast Ethernet Desktop Switch costs $24.98 on Amazon.

Hub Diagram

Switch

• A switch operates in the data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI model.

• A switch is a networking device that links network segments or network devices.

• A switch can receive a message from any device that is connected to it and transmit that message only to the device the message was intended for.

• A switch is programmable and can have its ports turned off, grouped into different VLANS, and can connect different types of networks such as Ethernet and FC.

• A Netgear JGS516 ProSafe 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch is $147.99 on Amazon.

Switch Diagram

Router• A router operates at the Network layer (layer 3) of the OSI model• Routers forward data packets between computer networks and connect to

two or more data lines from different networks.• Routers are used to interconnect networks and exchange information

about destination addresses using a dynamic routing protocol. Each router builds a routing table listing the preferred routes between any two systems on the network.

• They can also connect two of more logical groups of computer devices known as subnets with a different sub-network address.

• A Netgear Wireless Router – N600 Dual Band Gigabit is $78.88 on Amazon

Router Diagram

Bridge

• Bridging acts in the first two layers of the OSI model• Network bridging is an action taken by network equipment to

allow two or more communication networks, or segments to create an aggregate network.

• A network bridge is a device that connects more than on network segment.

• A Netgear WNCE2001 Universal WiFi Internet Adapter is $49.99 on Amazon

Bridge Diagram

Gateway

• Network gateways can operate at any level of the OSI model

• A gateway is an internetworking system that can join two networks that use different base protocols.

• Gateways appear at the edge of a network, so related capabilities like firewalls tend to be integrated with it

• A Juniper Networks – SRX100B – Srx Svcs Gateway 100 W/ 8xfe is $350.75 on Amazon.

Gateway Diagram

Firewall• A firewall can either be a software or hardware-based network security

system that controls the inbound and outbound traffic by analyzing the packets and determining whether they should be allowed to pass or not based on a rule set.

• Firewalls establish a barrier between a trusted secure internal network with other networks that are not assumed to be secure and trusted.

• A PC’s OS will include a software-based firewall for protection and networks have a piece of hardware that contains the firewall to protect the network.

• A Juniper Networks SSG-5-SH-US-7 port – 256MB Firewall Security Appliance is $389 on Amazon.

Firewall Diagram

Wireless AP

• A WAP is a device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network.

• An AP connects to a router as a standalone device, or can be integrated with the router.

• WAP points have revolutionized how a home or office connect to the network. People can connect to the network without having to use cables and as long as they stay within range of the AP they can move around the home or office without having to disconnect from the network.

• A Amped Wireless High Power Wireless-N 600mW Dual Band Access Point is $136.99 on Amazon.

Wireless AP Diagram

Full Network Diagram