Read the Information Sheet 5.

2 carefully and at the end of

this sheet there will be a Self-check to measure how much
you’ve learned and remembered.

INFORMATION SHEET No. 5.2

NETWORKING DEVICES

Learning Objectives:
After reading this Information Sheet, you should be able to:

 Define networking devices,

 Identify the different types of network devices,
 Differentiate Hub, Switch and Router

What are Network Devices?

Networking hardware, also known as network

equipment or computer networking devices, are electronic devices which
are required for communication and interaction between devices on
a computer network. Specifically, they mediate data transmission in a
computer network.

Network devices, or networking hardware, are physical devices that are

required for communication and interaction between hardware on a computer
network.

Types of network devices

Here is the common network device list:

1. Network Interface Card
2. Wi-Fi Card
3. Access Point
4. Hub
5. Switch
6. Router
7. Bridge
8. Gateway
9. Repeater
10. Modem

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 1. Network Interface Card (NIC) is a hardware component without
which a computer cannot be connected over a network. It is a circuit
board installed in a computer that provides a dedicated network
connection to the computer. It is also called network interface
controller, network adapter or LAN adapter.

A network interface controller is a computer hardware component

that connects a computer to a computer network. Early network
interface controllers were commonly implemented on expansion
cards that plugged into a computer bus.

2. Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) Card - is used to connect any devices to

local network wirelessly.

3. WIRELESS ACCESS POINT - is a device, such as a wireless router,

that allows wireless devices to connect to a network. Most access
points have built-in routers, while others must be connected to a
router in order to provide network access. The physical area of the
network which provides internet access through Wi-Fi is called Wi-Fi
hotspot or Wi-Fi Access Point.

TP Link TL-WA801ND
TP Link EAP 110

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 4. HUB - Is a physical layer device which has multiple ports that used
to connect multiple computers or segments of LAN together.
A hub, also called a network hub, is a common connection point
for devices in a network. Hubs are devices commonly used to
connect segments of a LAN. The hub contains multiple ports. When
a packet arrives at one port, it is copied to the other ports so that all
segments of the LAN can see all packets

5. MANAGE SWITCH – is networking hubs that allow you to hook up

several devices to a network and manipulate how traffic is
controlled. Hub just does the work of data forwarding while a switch
does “filter and forwarding” which is a more intelligent way of
dealing with data packets.

6. ROUTER - It is a device that performs like a wired router without

using cable to connect to a network. Router is mainly a Network
layer device. It can work like a switch that routes data packages
based on their IP addresses.

7. BRIDGE – it connects two or more LANs. It operates at data link

layer. Bridge handles network that follows the same protocol.

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 8. GATEWAY – is a network device used to connect two or more
dissimilar networks.

9. REPEATER – are used to extend transmissions so that the signal

can cover longer distances of be received on the other side of an
obstruction.

10. MODEM – (modulators-demodulators) are used to transmit digital

signals over analog telephone lines. Thus, digital signals are converted by
the modem into analog signals of different frequencies and transmitted to a
modem at the receiving location. The receiving modem performs the
reverse transformation and provides a digital output to a device connected
to a modem, usually a computer. The digital data is usually transferred to or
from the modem over a serial line through an industry standard interface,
RS-232. Many telephone companies offer DSL services, and many cable
operators use modems as end terminals for identification and recognition of
home and personal users. Modems work on both the Physical and Data Link
layers.
The main function of the modem is to convert digital signal into analog and
vice versa. Modem is a combination of two devices
− modulator and demodulator. The modulator converts digital data into
analog data when the data is being sent by the computer.
The demodulator converts analog data signals into digital data when it is
being received by the computer.

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 Types of Modem
Modem can be categorized in several ways like direction in which it can transmit data,
type of connection to the transmission line, transmission mode, etc.
Depending on direction of data transmission, modem can be of these types −
 Simplex − A simplex modem can transfer data in only one direction, from digital
device to network (modulator) or network to digital device (demodulator).
 Half duplex − A half-duplex modem has the capacity to transfer data in both the
directions but only one at a time.
 Full duplex − A full duplex modem can transmit data in both the directions
simultaneously.

MODEM

These are differences between Hub, Switch and Router;

Note: For further study watch these video presentations in youtube.com

Title: Computer Network Devices uploaded by Simply Coding
Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYe6Mh9fig0

Title: Networks Types uploaded by PowerCert Animated Videos.

Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z0ULvg_pW8&list=RDCMUCJQJ4GjTiq5lmn8czf8oo0Q&start_radio=1&t=1

Electronic references:
https://blog.netwrix.com/2019/01/08/network-devices-explained/
messener.com
https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-modem-817861

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 Self-Check 5.2

Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the correct answer from the given choices.

______1. Is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a

computer network.
A. Networking Devices C. Network
B. Network Topology D. Network Interface Controller
______2. Are used to transmit digital signals over analog telephone lines.
A. ROUTER C. ACCESS POINT
B. MODEM D. WI-FI
______3. Are used to extend transmissions so that the signal can cover longer
distances of be received on the other side of an obstruction.
A. Modem C. Repeater
B. Router D. Access Point
______4. It is a device that performs like a wired router without using cable to
connect to a network.
A. Router C. Bridge
B. Access Point D. Modem
______5. It is a device, such as a wireless router, that allows wireless devices to
connect to a network.
A. Router C. Bridge
B. Access Point D. Modem
______6. Is a physical layer device which has multiple ports that used to
connect multiple computers or segments of LAN together.
A. Hub C. Gateway
B. Manage Switch D. Bridge
______7. Are networking hubs that allow you to hook up several devices to a
network and manipulate how traffic is controlled.
A. Hub C. Gateway
B. Manage Switch D. Bridge
______8. Is used to connect any devices to local network wirelessly.
A. ROUTER C. ACCESS POINT
B. MODEM D. WI-FI
______9. it connects two or more LANs. It operates at data link layer.
A. Router C. Bridge
B. Access Point D. Modem
______10. is a network device used to connect two or more dissimilar networks.
A. Hub C. Gateway
B. Manage Switch D. Bridge
Enumeration: List down the 10 types of Network Devices
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

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