Software Application and

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Hardware devices that are used to connect computers,
printers, fax machines and other electronic devices to a
network are called network devices. These devices
transfer data in a fast, secure and correct way over same
or different networks. Network devices may be inter-
network or intra-network. Some devices are installed on
the device, like NIC card or RJ45 connector, whereas
some are part of the network, like router, switch, etc. Let
us explore some of these devices in greater detail.
Network Interface Card (NIC)
NIC is sometimes called as Ethernet Card, Network Card, LAN Card, Network Adaptor Card, (NAC)
or Network Interface Unit (NIU) or Terminal Access Point (TAP).

It is a physical and data link layer device used by computers to connect and communicate with other
devices on the LAN.

Some old NIC they need to install manually,

but in modern computer systems it is internal
hardware component.
Wi-Fi Card
Wi-Fi is the acronym for wireless fidelity. Wi-Fi technology is used to achieve wireless
connection to any network. Wi-Fi card is a card used to connect any device to the local network
wirelessly. The physical area of the network which provides internet access through Wi-Fi is
called Wi-Fi hotspot. Hotspots can be set up at home, office or any public space. Hotspots
themselves are connected to the network through wires. (WIFI Access Point)

A Wi-Fi card is used to add capabilities

like teleconferencing, downloading digital
camera images, video chat, etc. to old devices.
Modern devices come with their in-built wireless
network adapter.
Hub
Hub is a physical layer device which has multiple ports are used to connect multiple computers or
segments of LAN together.

A hub has many ports in it. A computer which intends to be connected to the network is plugged in to
one of these ports. When a data frame arrives at a port, it is broadcast to every other port, without
considering whether it is destined for a particular destination device or not.
Hub
Features of Hubs

• A hub cannot filter data. It is a non-intelligent network device that sends message to all
ports.
• It primarily broadcasts messages. So, the collision domain of all nodes connected
through the hub stays one.
• Transmission mode is half duplex.
• Collisions may occurs during setup of transmission when more than one computers
place data simultaneously in the corresponding ports.
• Since they lack intelligence to compute best path for transmission of data packets,
inefficiencies and wastage occur.
• They are passive devices, they don’t have any software associated with it.
• They generally have fewer ports of 4/12.
 Types of Hubs
Initially, hubs were passive devices. However,
with development of advanced technology,
active hubs and intelligent hubs came into use.

•Passive Hubs − Passive hubs connects nodes in a star configuration by collecting wiring from
nodes. They broadcast signals onto the network without amplifying or regenerating them. As they
cannot extend the distance between nodes, they limit the size of the LAN.
•Active Hubs − Active hubs amplify and regenerate the incoming electrical signals before
broadcasting them. They have their own power supply and serves both as a repeater as well as
connecting centre. Due to their regenerating capabilities, they can extend the maximum distance
between nodes, thus increasing the size of LAN.
•Intelligent Hubs − Intelligent hubs are active hubs that provide additional network management
facilities. They can perform a variety of functions of more intelligent network devices like network
management, switching, providing flexible data rates etc.
Switch
Switch is a network device that connects other devices to Ethernet networks through twisted
pair cables. It uses packet switching technique to receive, store and forward data packets on the
network. The switch maintains a list of network addresses of all the devices connected to it.
On receiving a packet, it checks the destination address and transmits the packet to the correct port.
Before forwarding, the packets are checked for collision and other network errors. The data is
transmitted in full duplex mode

Data transmission speed in switches can be

double that of other network devices like hubs
used for networking. This is because switch
shares its maximum speed with all the devices
connected to it. This helps in maintaining network
speed even during high traffic. In fact, higher
data speeds are achieved on networks through
use of multiple switches.
Router
A router is a network layer hardware device that transmits data from one LAN to another if both
networks support the same set of protocols. So a router is typically connected to at least two LANs
and the internet service provider (ISP). It receives its data in the form of packets, which are data
frames with their destination address added. Router also strengthens the signals before
transmitting them. That is why it is also called repeater.

Routing Table
A router reads its routing table to decide the best available
route the packet can take to reach its destination quickly and
accurately. The routing table may be of these two types −
•Static − In a static routing table the routes are fed manually.
So it is suitable only for very small networks that have
maximum two to three routers.
•Dynamic − In a dynamic routing table, the router
communicates with other routers through protocols to
determine which routes are free. This is suited for larger
networks where manual feeding may not be feasible due to
large number of routers.
RJ45 Connector
RJ45 is the acronym for Registered Jack 45. RJ45 connector is an 8-pin jack used by devices to
physically connect to Ethernet based local area networks (LANs). Ethernet is a technology that
defines protocols for establishing a LAN. The cable used for Ethernet LANs are twisted pair ones and
have RJ45 connector pins at both ends. These pins go into the corresponding socket on devices
and connect the device to the network.
Computer Network Devices
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYe6Mh9fig0
What Is Network Topology?
Network topology refers to how various nodes, devices, and connections on your network are
physically or logically arranged in relation to each other. Nodes: any device connected to a
network
Network: a group of interconnected computers / devices
Why Is Network Topology Important?
The way a network is arranged can make or break network functionality,
connectivity, and protection from downtime. The question of, “What is network
topology?” can be answered with an explanation of the two categories in the
network topology.

1.Physical – The physical network topology refers to the actual connections

(wires, cables, etc.) of how the network is arranged. Setup, maintenance, and
provisioning tasks require insight into the physical network.
2.Logical – The logical network topology is a higher-level idea of how the
network is set up, including which nodes connect to each other and in which ways,
as well as how data is transmitted through the network. Logical network topology
includes any virtual and cloud resources.
Effective network management and monitoring require a strong grasp of both the
physical and logical topology of a network to ensure your network is efficient and
healthy.
What’s the Most Common Type of Network Topology?

Building a local area network (LAN) topology can be make-or-break for your business, as you
want to set up a resilient, secure, and easy-to-maintain topology. There are several different types
of network topology and all are suitable for different purposes, depending on the overall network
size and your objectives.
What Is Star Topology?
Star network topologies are used in
many networks, large and small.
In a star network topology
all nodes connect to each other indirectly
through one or more switches or hubs.
The switch acts as a central point through
which all communications are passed.

Switches: a device for connecting

computers and other network capable of
devices together to form a network.
Hub: a piece of hardware used in
computer networks used to connect
multiple devices.
Large networks using a star network topology are usually controlled by one or
more servers. Hence, the client-server model usually uses a star topology.
However, peer-to-peer networks can also have a star network topology. Even
though no single computer controls the network, all communications still pass
through the central switch or hub.

Server: a computer that holds data to be shared with other computers. Servers
require server software.
Client-Server- a form of computer networking where the data or web application
is hosted on a server and accessed by client computers.
Peer-to-Peer – a type of network model where all computers on the network share
responsibility and there is no one central server.
Advantages and disadvantages of using a star network topology
Having nodes arranged in a star network topology brings some benefits:
• each node is separately connected and therefore a failure of one node or its link
does not affect any other nodes
• new nodes can be added to the network simply by connecting them to the
switch
• star network topologies tend to have higher performance as a message is passed
on to its intended recipient only

However, star network topologies also have disadvantages:

• the whole network fails if the switch fails, as no node can communicate
• a wired star network topology requires plenty of cable - in a large network this
can be expensive
• bottlenecking can occur if too much traffic passes through the central switch,
making the network slow
Star network topologies in use
Star network topologies tend to be found in large organizations, such as
educational establishments and businesses, where high performance is a must.
They are also found in home networks, especially those that are wireless. In this
case, a router with a wireless access point (WAP) provides the central connection
for all nodes.

Wireless: a connection that does not need wires and transmit data through radio
signals
Router: a device for connecting computers and other network capable devices
together to form a network.
Wireless Access Point (WAP): a device that connects computer to a network
using WIFI.
What Is Bus Topology?
Computers and peripherals are called nodes
and are each connected to a single cable on
which data can be sent. A bus network
topology has a terminator on each end. These
are needed to ensure that the network
functions correctly.

Peripherals: a piece of hardware that connects to a

computer eg: mouse, keyboard, printer

Data: units of information or instructions

Terminator: device that terminates signals to prevent

them reflecting back down the line.
The bus carries data along a central cable. As the data arrives at each computer system, it checks
the destination address to see if it matches. If the address does not match, the node ignores
the packet. If the address of the node matches that contained in the data, it processes the data.

Advantages and disadvantages of using a bus network topology

Having nodes arranged in a bus network topology brings some benefits:
• it is easy to implement and to add more nodes to the network
• it is quick to set up
• it uses less cabling than some other network topologies and is therefore cost effective
However, bus network topologies also have disadvantages:
• it can be difficult to find out where an error has occurred
• as more nodes are added, the performance of the network can be reduced, making this
unsuitable for large local area networks (LANs)
• if there is a problem with the main bus cable, the entire network stops working
• as all computers on the bus can see all data that is transmitted, it is not classed as a secure
network and can easily be hacked
• data collisions are more likely, which causes the network to slow down
Bus network topologies in use

Bus network topologies are used when a small, cheap and often temporary
network is needed that does not rely on very high data-transfer speeds. They may
be used in locations such as a laboratory or office.
What Is Ring Topology?

In a ring network topology, nodes are

connected in a ring or a loop. Data is
sent around the ring, being passed from
one computer system to the next until it
reaches its destination.
Advantages and disadvantages of using a ring network topology
Having nodes arranged in a ring network topology brings some benefits:
• because data passes around the network in one direction, there are no network
collisions
• adding additional nodes has very little impact on bandwidth
However, ring network topologies also have disadvantages:
• if any of the nodes fail, the ring is broken and data cannot be transmitted
• it is difficult to troubleshoot a ring network topology
• because all nodes are wired together, the network must be temporarily stopped
to add additional nodes
Ring network topologies in use
Ring network topologies are used when a simple network is needed. They are
suitable for locations that do not rely on very high data-transfer speeds, and where
the network is unlikely to alter in size or structure. For example, a small office
with only a few nodes may use a ring network topology.
What Is Mesh Topology?

In a mesh network topology there is no central connection point. Instead,

each node is connected to at least one other node and usually to more than one.
Each node is capable of sending messages to and receiving messages from other
nodes. The nodes act as relays, passing on a message towards its final
destination.

There are two types of mesh network topology:

• full mesh network topology
• partial mesh network topology
Mesh network topologies are
becoming increasingly popular due to
their efficiency.
With a full mesh network topology,
each node is directly connected to
every other node. This enables a
message to be sent along many
individual routes.
With a partial mesh network
topology, not all nodes are
connected directly to each other. A
partial mesh therefore has fewer
routes for a message to travel
along than a full mesh, but it is
simpler to implement.
Advantages and disadvantages of using a mesh network topology
Having nodes arranged in a mesh network topology brings some benefits:
• messages can be received more quickly if the route to the intended recipient is short
• messages should always get through as they have many possible routes on which to travel
• multiple connections mean - in theory - that no node should be isolated
• multiple connections mean each node can transmit to and receive from more than one
node at the same time
• new nodes can be added without interruption or interfering with other nodes
However, mesh network topologies also have their disadvantages:
• full mesh network toplogies can be impractical to set up because of the high number of
connections needed
• having many connections means that a lot of maintenance is required
• a large part of the network may be redundant if there are better routes to connect nodes,
making some connections unnecessary
Mesh network topologies in use
Mesh network topologies are used where the reliability of network communication
is very important:
• military organizations often use mesh network topologies to avoid breakdowns in
communication
• cities are increasingly using wireless mesh network topologies to help monitor
traffic flow and sewage treatment, and to help control street lighting
• emergency services, such as police and fire services, also use wireless mesh
network topologies to ensure that communication is reliable
• some utility companies who provide gas and electric use mesh network
topologies to allow smart meters to send readings automatically