Networking Components

Christopher Biles

LTEC4550.020

Assignment 3

Hubs

Cisco Fasthub 400 Series.

Hubs• Hubs are centralized devices which enable Ethernet devices

to communicate together on a single network. They are unsophisticated devices which can not filter packets but can send and receive packets, however not at the same time.

• Hubs take the information (packets) sent from one Ethernet device and broadcast it to every device connected, even the device which is sending the information.

• Hubs can be used to create simple home and office networks allowing resources to be shared, such as printers, scanners, and files.

• Because of their nature and depending on the amount of ports needed and brand, hubs range in price from $20 to $100 or more. There are affordable yet powerful hub solution on the market for home or office use.

Switches

Cisco SF200-24 Switch.

Switches• Switches are centralized devices that connect multiple

Ethernet devices or network segments, such as networks using a hub, into a single Local Area Network (LAN).

• Switches work at layer 2, the Data Link Layer, and sometimes 3 of the OSI model. This allows switches to inspect and filter packets being passed through it. By working at layer 2, switches can determine which device is sending packets and the destination of those packets. This greatly conserves network bandwidth and reduces packet collisions.

• Switches can be used to connect network segments within the same area, such as a building, into a single LAN. This allows resources to be shared but with more precision, less bandwidth usage, and with less packet collision.

• While switches are a lot like hubs, their sophisticated nature and ability to filter packets comes at a higher price. Switches range from as little as $100 to $1,000s, depending on the number of ports, features, and speeds required. There are many affordable switches for home and office used.

Routers

Cisco 2900 Router.

Routers• Routers are network devices which work at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model, which connect multiple networks

together, such as a LAN to the Internet.

• Routers work at the network layer of the OSI model to connect multiple networks together, separated by buildings or even geographically. By working at the network layer of the OSI model, routers can also filter and route inbound and outbound packets based on the sender or receivers IP address.

• Routers can be used to connect to geographically separated networks together. If a network in Denton, TX needed to connect to another offsite network in Austin, TX, a router could be used to connect the two together. This can achieved through multiple solutions, such as a dedicated circuit from your ISP to the remote facility or a VPN.

• Routers and their increase in sophistication and features, can come at a higher price tag than switches. Routers range in price from under $100 to $1000s, depending on your needs. There are several affordable and well performing routers for home and office use.

Routers

Bridges

Cisco Aironet 1400 series.

Bridges• Bridges are network devices which operate at the data link

layer (layer 2) of the OSI model that filter network traffic at a network’s boundary and connect multiple networks together.

• Bridges serve to reduce the amount of traffic on a LAN by dividing it into segments and to connect LANs together. By working at layer 2 of the OSI model, bridges can filter inbound network traffic. Filtered inbound traffic can then be forwarded or discarded by the bridge. Forwarded inbound traffic is then sent to the appropriate recipient on the network. Bridged networks are not considered separate independently communicating networks, but rather a large network consisting of multiple LANs.

• Bridges can be used to connect two independent LANs in separate buildings into one larger network or LAN.

• Bridges can range in price from as little as $50 to $100s depending on your network needs.

Gateways

Cisco RF Gateway.

Gateways• Gateways are software, hardware, or a combination of both,

which can operate at any level of the OSI model to connect separate networks.

• Gateways can be strictly software based, hardware based devices, or any combination of the two. They connect local subnets to other subnets and often LANs to the internet.

• Gateways for home use are generally paired with the Modem / Router a Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides. A gateway can be used to connect your LAN and subnets to the Internet.

• Gateways can have a very large price range from $50 to $1000s depending on the brand and networking needs. Home gateways are generally paired, built into, or an extension of the modem / router your ISP provides. Dedicated hardware gateways with increase security and features range from $400 to $4000 in some cases.

Firewalls

Cisco ASA 5505 series.

Firewalls• Firewalls are software security systems or hardware devices which

control inbound and outbound packets to a secure network from potentially insecure networks such as the Internet.

• Firewalls work on rule sets, which determine whether the firewall will allow or deny packets through specific ports. Each packet, both inbound and outbound, is analyzed and based on the rule set, allowed or denied access or passage through the firewall. Firewalls work to secure networks from insecure networks and minimizing potential intrusions.

• Firewalls can be used to secure a small business’s network which has crucial company information stored on a network server. The server does not need an Internet connection or packets inbound from the Internet, but needs to communicate with networked computers. A firewall can deny all inbound and outbound packets from the server to the Internet and only allow communication to the Internet for networked computers.

• Firewalls depending on their nature, software or hardware, can be inexpensive or expensive. A Cisco ASA 5505 series firewall is priced from $200 to $600 depending on the retailer. Software firewalls and low end hardware firewalls are affordable for home use, while mid-range to high-end hardware firewalls are more affordable to businesses.

Access Points

Cisco AIRONET 3600 series.

Access Points• Access points are network devices which allow wireless

devices to connect to the LAN or WLAN.

• Access points are small devices equipped with radio transmitters and receivers which allow wireless devices to connect to the LAN or WLAN. Access points can also be configured and used as Wireless-to-Wired bridges, allowing devices to share resources on one network.

• Access points can be used at home to share an Internet connect with wireless devices. The access point would be connected to the network, generally through an Ethernet cable. The connection would then be shared to wireless devices through wireless protocols, allowing wireless devices to connect to the network and share resources or Internet.

• Access points have a wide variety of prices which are dependent on manufacturer, speeds, and other features. Household access points range in price from $50 to $200. High end business access points, such as the Cisco AIRONET 3600, range in price from $300 to $1000s depending on the quantity needed and retailer. There are both affordable and great performing access points for the home or office.

Network Scheme