 Computer networks components comprise both physical

components as well as the software required for

installing computer networks.
 Hardware components :

◦ server
◦ client
◦ transmission medium and
◦ connecting devices.
 Software components:
o operating system and
o protocols.
 Servers: Servers are high-configuration computers that manage
the resources of the network. The network operating system is
typically installed in the server and so they give user accesses
to the network resources. Servers can be of various kinds: file
servers, database servers, print servers etc.

 Clients: Clients are computers that request and receive service

from the servers to access and use the network resources.

 Transmission Media: Transmission media are the channels

through which data is transferred from one device to another
in a network. Transmission media may be guided media like
coaxial cable, fibre optic cables etc; or maybe unguided media
like microwaves, infra-red waves etc.
 Interconnecting Devices: Connecting devices act as
middleware between networks or computers by binding
the network media together. Some of the common
connecting devices are:
Network Interface Card(NIC)
   Routers
   Bridges
   Hubs
   Repeaters
 Gateways
Switches 
1. Network Interface Card
The network interface card (or NIC for short) is the network
adapter that all devices must have in order to be part of a
network. On desktop computers, network interface cards
allow Ethernet cables to be plugged in, as this is the main
method of establishing network connections on desktop
computers.
Repeaters
 A repeater operates at the physical layer means it is a purely hardware device.

 Why use repeaters?

10 Base 2 Repeater 10 Base 2

(10 MBps 200 mtr) (10 MBps 200 mtr)
 The strength of the signal will go down after 200 mtr- No repeater
 With a repeater -If a device is sending a signal, after 200 there will be
attenuation (signal weakening) but because of the repeater , the signal can
travel even after 200 meters. Hence increases the distance covered by the
signal.
Repeaters
 Its job is to regenerate the signal(original voltage value) over the same

network before the signal becomes too weak or corrupted so as to extend

the length to which the signal can be transmitted over the same network.
An important point to be noted about repeaters is that they do not amplify
the signal.
 It is only a 2 port device.

 It operates at physical layer only.

 No filtering capability – Cannot read source and destination addresses,

hence not capable of selective forwarding. Uses flooding

Hub
  A hub is basically a multiport repeater. 
 Layer 1 device(Physical layer)
 A signal received at any port on the hub is retransmitted on all other
ports.
 Network segments that employ hubs are often described as having a
star topology, in which the hub forms the wiring centre of the star.
Hubs cannot filter data, so data packets are sent to all connected
devices. 
 Also, they do not have intelligence to find out best path for data
packets which leads to inefficiencies and wastage.
HUB
If a message comes in destined for computer “A”, that message
is sent out to all the other ports, regardless of which computer
“A” is.

Incoming data passing through a hub.

 When computer “A” responds, its response also goes out to every other port on the
hub.

 Every computer connected to the hub “sees” everything every other computer
on the hub does. It’s up to the computers themselves to decide if a message is
for them and whether or not it should be paid attention to.
Bridge
 Bridges can be used to connect LANs of different types.

 Hubs are also used to connect 2 LANs but they have to be identical.

 Secondly bridges have only 2 ports.

 Third- Bridges performs the function of forwarding i.e if a packet

arrives on a bridge , it forwards it.

 A bridge operates at data link layer. A bridge is a repeater, with

add on functionality of filtering content by reading the addresses of

source and destination.
 Bridge M4
M6 M7
M2
P1
Bridge P2

M1 M3 M5
 Bridge interfaces are port P1 and Port2
 M1, M2, M3 and M4 are to the left of the interface (P1) and

M5, M6, M7 to the right(P2)

 If M1 is sending a packet to M7 , Packet contains Source and

destination MAC address.

 Bridges can check the MAC address and decide if the packet

has to be forwarded or not.

 Eg: if M1 to M7 – forward

 if M1 to M3 – don’t forward
How does it decide ?
 M6 M7
M2 M4
P1
Bridge P2

Bridges are of 2 types

M1 M3 M5
1. Static
2. Dynamic /Transparent (Learning bridge)
 Static

Bridges maintain a table MAC address – Port No.

Network Admin manually types which machine is connected to which port

MAC Port
M1 P1
M2 P1
M3 P1
M4 P1
M5 P2
M6 P2
M7 P2

If M1 wants to send a message to M5 , the bridge checks the table and decides if to
forward or not
Drawback of Static table
 The table has to be maintained manually. Eg: if a machine

changes interface, then the network admin has to manually

change the table.
 M6 M7
M2 M4
P1
Bridge P2

M1 M3 M5
Dynamic bridge
 Initially the table is empty.

 Bridge does not know which machine is connected to which

interface.
 If M1 has to send a packet to M6, Source address- M1,

Destination address- M6, table is consulted ,but the entry is

missing.
 Bridge has learnt that the packet came from M1 at port 1

 An entry is made in the table that M 1 is at Port 1. The packet is

broadcasted.
 And when the reply(Ack) come in from M6 to M1 (SA – M6 and

DA –M1) to the bridge it learns that M6 is connected to P2.

Switch
 Brigdes are 2 port device

 But switches are multi port devices.

 Also called as a multiport bridge Eg: 8,24.48 etc ports

 Switch is data link layer device.

 Different devices can be connected to its port including a

router.
 Switches can perform error checking before
forwarding data, which are very efficient by not
forwarding packets that have errors or forwarding
good packets selectively to correct devices only.
 Switches can also read the MAC address and

selectively forward the packets

Routers
 A router is a device like a switch that routes data packets based on their IP

addresses. Router is mainly a Network Layer device.

i.e. it can check IP addresses
Functions of routers :
1. Forwarding :

If a packet is to be sent from HA to HB(Host on n/w A to Host on n/w B),

then the packet contains the source and destination IP address (MAC
addresses are used at Layer 2 only (only in a LAN), But if a packet has to be
sent outside a n/w, then IP addresses are used
 When a packet reaches a router, router forwards the packet based on an
inbuilt routing table. Routing table gives information about the networks it
is connected to. It checks which direction, it has to send (forward the
packet)

 If a packet is unable to decide then it uses flooding, send the packet to all
the interfaces.
2. Filtering
 Decide whether to forward /block the packet (if the packet is

meant for the same network to which it interfaces.

3. Routing
 Routers have the ability to make intelligent decisions as to the

best path for delivery of data on the network.

 Routers normally connect LANs and WANs together and have

a dynamically updating routing table based on which they

make decisions on routing the data packets.