Networking Components

Eric Sestak

LTEC 4550

Network Hub Hubs are old devices which are rarelyever seen anymore these days.

Before switches were commonplacethey were the primary tool used to connect workstations together to a network.

There are three kinds of hubs. Active,Passive, and Hybrid. Active were mostcommon. Passive are generally seen inwiring panels and punch down blocks. Hybrid accommodate several differentconnections.

Hubs were mostly the affordable andeasy solution to provide connectivity.Much like how switches are used today.They can be purchased used for a few dollars.

Network SwitchSwitches are the current backbone of the modern network.

Switches provide connectivity to allnetwork devices and are primarily responsible for the speed at which datatransmits at.

Unlike hubs, each port on a switch is adedicated port that provides full speed.So there is no dividing of the bandwidthto accommodate needs.

These devices are used both on thebackend server side and also client sideto help provide scalability.

The cost varies depending on needs,between $20 and $2,000.

Network RouterIf the switch is the backbone of the network, then the router is the brains.

Routers are used to route betweenand connect to different networks. You can use them to dividelarger networks into smaller networksor bring smaller networks into larger networks.

Often times routers are also used as firewalls to do some kind of packetfiltering.

Routers, depending on the configuration,are often the first device on the network to accept the handoff from the ISP.

For a higher end Cisco router you can expect to pay ~$2,000.

Network RouterIf the switch is the backbone of the network, then the router is the brains.

Routers are used to route betweenand connect to different networks. You can use them to dividelarger networks into smaller networksor bring smaller networks into larger networks.

Often times routers are also used as firewalls to do some kind of packetfiltering.

Routers, depending on the configuration,are often the first device on the network to accept the handoff from the ISP.

For a higher end Cisco router you can expect to pay ~$2,000.

Network BridgePhysical network bridge devices are practically never used these days.

If an organization needs to bridge twonetworks together, they will simplyuse the router to handle it. Bridgeswere used before routers were readilyavailable.

Bridges were essentially very simplerouters. They learned about the networks connected to them, theyperformed packet transferring and utilized STP.

Most network routers have the capabilityof running in a ‘bridged’ mode if youneed it.

Bridge devices are not for sale anymore.

Network GatewayPhysical network gateway devices are practically never used these days.

Just like bridges, gateways were usedin a time before routers. Network Gateways are now going to be your layer3 switches and your routers.

The gateway is simply the IP address thedevice needs to get to in order to figureout how to navigate outside of its localnetwork segment. This is usually the IPof the router, since the router has a hugeamount of information.

Network gateway devices are not for sale anymore. You would need to purchase aswitch or router.

Network FirewallNetwork firewalls are one of the mostimportant pieces of a network.

The firewall is responsible for allowingthe good data to go in and out, andeverything else to be blocked.

Proper firewall configuration is vitally important because a bad firewall configuration can seriously jeopardize the entire network.

Firewalls are the sentry guard betweenthe internet and your network. Mostconfigurations will have explicit staticrules configured for necessary ports, andthen a ‘Deny IP any any’ rule denyingaccess to anything else.

A good entry level firewall starts at $500.

Network Wireless APA Wireless AP is essentially a networkswitch with a wireless antenna attached.

Wireless AP’s also do security andencryption to help prevent unauthorizedaccess from getting into your network.

Depending on how many devices areconnected to the access points, networkcongestion can happen and hinder theperformance.

Most wireless access points can bepurchased for less than $100.