What are Network Devices?
Definition: The
devices which are used for communication between different hardware’s
used in the computer network are known as network devices. These devices are
also known as physical devices, networking hardware, and network equipment
otherwise computer networking devices. In a computer network, each network
device plays a key role based on their functionality, and also works for
different purposes at different segments.
Types of Network Devices
There are different types of network devices used in a computer network
which include the following.
·
Network Hub
·
Network Switch
·
Modem
·
Network Router
·
Bridge
·
Repeater
Network Hub
The network hub is one kind of networking device in a computer network, used to communicate with various network hosts and also for data transferring. The transferring of data in a computer network can be done in the form of packets.
Whenever the data processing can be done from a host to a network hub, then the data can transmit to all the connected ports. Similarly, all the ports identify the data path which leads to inefficiencies & wastage. Because of this working, a network hub cannot be so safe and secure. In addition, copying the data packets on all the ports will make the hub slower which leads to the utilize of the network switch.
Network hubs are classified into two types like active hub & passive
hub.
Active Hub 
These hubs have their own power supply and these hubs are used to clean,
increase & transmit the signal using the network. It works as a wiring
center & repeater. Active hubs play a key role in extending the distance
between nodes.
Passive Hub
These hubs collect wiring from the power supply and
different nodes of an active hub. These hubs transmit the signals over the
network without improving & cleaning them. These hubs are not suitable for
extending the distance between nodes like an active hub.
Network
Switch
Similar to a hub, this is also working at the layer in the LAN and a switch is more clever compare with a hub. As the hub is used for data transferring, whereas a switch is used for filtering & forwarding the data.
So this is the more clever technique to deal with the data packets.
Whenever a data packet is obtained from the interfaces in the switch, then the data packet can be filtered & transmits to the interface of the proposed receiver. Due to this reason, a switch maintains a content addressable memory table to maintain system configuration as well as memory.
This table is also named as FIB (forwarding information base) otherwise forwarding table.
Modem
A modem is the most important network device and it is used daily in our
life. If we notice the internet connection to homes was given with the help of
a wire. Then wire carries internet data from one place to another. But, every
computer gives digital or binary data in the form of zeros & ones.
The full form of the modem is a modulator and a demodulator. So it
modulates as well as demodulates the signal among the computer and a telephone
line because the computer generates digital data whereas the telephone line
generates an analog signal.
Network Router
A network router is one kind of network device in a computer network and
it is used for routing traffic from one network to another. These two networks
could be private to a public company network. For example, here a router is
considered as traffic police at the junction, he directs dissimilar traffic
networks to dissimilar directions.
Bridge
A Bridge in the computer network is used to unite two or more network
segments. The main function of a bridge in network architecture is to store as
well as transmit frames among the various segments. Bridges use MAC (Media
Access Control) hardware for transferring frames.
Repeater
Gateway
Generally, a gateway performs at the session & transport layers in
the OSI model. Gateways offer conversion between networking technologies like
OSI (Open System Interconnection) & TCP/IP. Because of this,
these are connected to two or many autonomous networks, where each network has
its own domain name service, routing algorithm, topology, protocols, and
procedures of network administration & policies.
Gateways execute all the functions of routers. Actually, a router with
additional conversion functionality is a gateway, so the conversion between
various network technologies is known as a protocol converter.
Brouter
The Brouter is also called a bridging router and the main function of
this is to combine the features of both router & bridge and router. It
performs either at the network layer or the data link layer. When it works as a
router, it is used for routing packets across networks whereas it works as a
bridge; it is used for filtering LANs traffic.
