Networking Devices

Lesson 7

Switch
It is a computer networking device that links network segments or network devices.

Hub
It is a device for connecting multiple Ethernet devic es together and making them act as a single network segment.

Ethernet
also known as Network Interface Card (NIC) It is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network.

Collision Domain/Network Collision

It occurs when more than one device attempts to send a packet on a network segment at the same time. Inside this collision domain, all hosts will receive the garbled (error) message when a collision occurs.

Difference between Switch and Hub

Switch Switches are able to transmit data a lot faster compared to hubs. Switches do not broadcast the data to all the computers in the network. Hub Hubs are very simplistic devices that accept a single data packet then sends it out to all the computers that are connected to it. This means that only one data packet can pass through the hub at a time and all the data must wait for its turn.

Example
Hub - Think of a postman with a letter to deliver in a row of houses, none of the houses have numbers so he has to visit each house and ask the owner if the letter is for them. Switch - All the houses are numbered, so the postman knows where to go, and doesn't have to bother any other home owners.

Basic Switch video clip

MAC address
Media Access Control, It is the serial number of a network card

Modem
It is a device used to send information to and receive from another computer or network. Modem stands for MOdulator/ DEModulator and is normally used to send over phone lines.

Router
It routes signals on a network.