Networking hardware

Networking hardware, also known as network equipment or computer networking devices, are electronic devices that are required for communication and interaction between devices on a

.

Range

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Networking devices includes a broad range of equipment which can be classified as core network components which interconnect other network components, hybrid components which can be found in the core or border of a network and hardware or software components which typically sit on the connection point of different networks.

The most common kind of networking hardware today is a copper-based

Wireless networking

has become increasingly popular, especially for portable and handheld devices.

Other networking hardware used in computers includes

Taking a wider view, mobile phones, tablet computers and devices associated with the internet of things may also be considered networking hardware. As technology advances and IP-based networks are integrated into building infrastructure and household utilities, network hardware will become an ambiguous term owing to the vastly increasing number of network-capable endpoints.

Specific devices

Network hardware can be classified by its location and role in the network.

Core

Core network components interconnect other network components.

• Gateway: an interface providing a compatibility between networks by converting transmission speeds, protocols, codes, or security measures.^[2]
• Router: a networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks. Routers perform the "traffic directing" functions on the Internet. A data packet is typically forwarded from one router to another through the networks that constitute the internetwork until it reaches its destination node.^[3] It works on OSI layer 3.^[4]
• Switch: a multi-port device that connects devices together at the same or different speeds on a computer network, by using packet switching to receive, process and forward data to the destination device. Unlike less advanced network hubs, a network switch forwards data only to one or multiple devices that need to receive it, rather than broadcasting the same data out of each of its ports.^[5] It works on OSI layer 2.
• Bridge: a device that connects multiple network segments. It works on OSI layers 1 and 2.^[6]
• signal and retransmits it at a higher level or higher power, or onto the other side of an obstruction, so that the signal can cover longer distances.^[7]
• jam signal to all ports if they detect a collision. Hubs are now largely obsolete, having been replaced by network switches
  except in very old installations or specialized applications.
• Wireless access point
• Structured cabling

Hybrid

Hybrid components can be found in the core or border of a network.

• Multilayer switch: a switch that, in addition to switching on OSI layer 2, provides functionality at higher protocol layers.
• transmission, for interoperation.^[9]
• Bridge router (brouter): a device that works as a bridge and as a router. The brouter routes packets for known protocols and simply forwards all other packets as a bridge would.^[10]

Border

Hardware or software components which typically sit on the connection point of different networks (for example, between an internal network and an external network) include:

• Proxy server: computer network service which allows clients to make indirect network connections to other network services.^[11]
• Firewall: a piece of hardware or software put on the network to prevent some communications forbidden by the network policy.^[12] A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted, secure internal network and another outside network, such as the Internet, that is assumed to not be secure or trusted.^[13]
• Network address translator (NAT): network service (provided as hardware or as software) that converts internal to external network addresses and vice versa.^[14]
• Residential gateway: interface between a WAN connection to an Internet service provider and the home network.
• Terminal server: connects devices with a serial port to a local area network.

End stations

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Other hardware devices used for establishing networks or dial-up connections include:

• Network interface controller (NIC): a device connecting a computer to a computer network.
• Wireless network interface controller: a device connecting the attached computer to a radio-based computer network.
• Modem: device that modulates an analog "carrier" signal (such as sound) to encode digital information, and that also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. Used (for example) when a computer communicates with another computer over a telephone network.
• ISDN terminal adapter (TA): a specialized gateway
  for ISDN.
• Line driver: a device to increase transmission distance by amplifying the signal; used in base-band networks only.

See also

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Network hardware.

• USF Explanation of network hardware