12.

7 NETWORK DEVICES

Modem that be
Data is transmitted from one point to another point by m e a n s of electrical signals may
the transmission power varies over a continuous range
in digital and analog form. In analog signal
waves. On the other hand, a digital signal may a s s u m e only
with respect to sound, light and radio
are signals generated in computer
discrete set of values within a given range (see fig), examples
measured in Volts and its frequency is in Hertz
and computer related equipment. Analog signal is
in binary form (0 or 1). When digital data
(Hz). A digital signal is a sequence of voltage represented
are to be sent ovet an analog
form the digital signal must be converted to analog form.
 &t devices togethar
Hub is a central device installed in a network to connect multiple computers
The working of networking hub is very simple. It has many points. The data is sernt to every Point
and it is forwarded to the point where the hub finds the address of the destined computer.

Def: A hub is a device used to collect sigmals from the input inels) and broadcasted them in
various available connected nodes around a netuwork.
Hub basically acts as signal splitter, it accepts signal through its input port and outputs it to
the output ports. Some hubs help in regenerating the weak signals prior to sending them to the
intended output lines, whereas some hubs help in synchronizing the data communication. Sometimes
multiple hubs are interconnected in the network. Hubs are used more commonly in star
topology.
The following figure illustrates the same.

HUB

Ports

Fig. 29.

Stch
Def: A network switch is
intelligent hardware device that joins multiple
a
within Local Area Network (LAN).
By computers together
a network switch
delivering
conserves network bandwidth and
messages only to the connected' device intended,
hub. offèrs generally better performance than a
Unlike hubs, network switches are
capable of
destination device of eachinspectingand packets as they are received,
data
determining the sourceand
Whenever the node transmits data, packet, forwarding them appropriately.
meant for another node in
switch intercepts the data, determines the local area network,
the destination and the
forwards the transmission to its intended
destination. Since a data packet does not
get broadcasted to
congestion is minimized and network bandwidth is
unnecessary segments, network
Switches can be connected to each conserved.
larger number of devices to a LAN. other, a so-called daisy chaining method to add progressively
 820
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOO
NOLOGIES AND OPEN
SOURCE cONCEPTS

Computer1
Internet
Ethernet
Switchor
To internet Hub
connection

Computer 3
Computer 2 Game Console
R wwwww. wwowwe

Fig. 30. Wired Home Network Diagtam Featuring Ethernet Hub or Switch.

twork where a LAN switch is used, each node gets a direct connection to a switch. This
it possible for one node to maximize use of the bandwidth available to
it. After all. no
n o other node makes
is competing withitfor bandwidth.This means speedy data transmission.
v e r , the connection between the node and the switch can be made using cabling which
siteharate
SWitch is
route for data that the node is sending out and a separate route for data that the
forwarding to the node. This eliminates problems of data collision.
ne LAN Switch is especially a vast improvement over the network hub since it has the ability
to
read the source and destination node of a data packet and forward the packet only to the
destination node.
Router
Def: A Router is responsible for connecting two different networks using same
are connected in a series in a WAN or a LAN protocol. Routers
and they are called Hop in the series.
D-Link, TP-Link, Link-Sys, Cisco and Aztech are some well known Router
companies. Routers are of two Basic types DSL routers and Wi-Fi routers. Nearly every manufacturing
organization, university, end-user uses routers to connect to internet or ISP, bank,
interconnect in to their virtual private networks over the internet.
When we send any data across the network, it flows in the form
of
packet. Besides containing data itself these packets contains two addresses.
One is source address and the other destination address. The addresses which
we are talking about is known as IP'addresses. IP stands for internet protocol.
All computers across the internet are assigned a globally unique identifier
called as IP address. Fig. 31.

Def: IP addresses are used as street addresses so that ofher computers can locate
them, these addresses
takes the form of four numbers separated by dots eg. 124.45.69.89. In future the IP numbers will be
in the form of six numbers like 192.168.222.212.10.111.

Function of router
Function of router is to take out the destination lP address from the packet and determines the
t hon (next router) to which a data packet should be forwarded towards its destination.
AT ltimatelv packet reaches to the destination machine, that machine uses the source
IP
address of the packetto send acknowledgment indicating that packet has arrived.
Ather important function played by router is acting as "firewall". It does not allow
camputer's IP address to directiy expose to the internet and it protects our PC from spvware
and other viruses.
 824
SCIENCE C++ (
MODERN'S abc OF COMPUTER SCIENCE C.

peater
network cable. It retimes
A is device that connects two segiments of your and
Def: repeater a
and retransmit them to the
destined segments.
regenerates the signals to proper amplitudes
cable by boosting the signal before it getc
Repeaters extend the distance limitation of a
reach distant nodes. Repeaters require a
weak. It isused to extend a network segment to which can affect netw
can cause a propagation delay work
amount of time to regenerate the signal. This
network architectures limit
in a row. Many
communication when there are several repeaters the
at the physical layer of the (
be used in row. Repeaters work only
number ofrepeaters that can a

network model.
Device D
Device A Repeator

Device C
Device B
Fig. 32.

, Brige to another local area

Def: A bridge is a device that connects one Local Area Network (LAN)
with selective
network that uses the same protocol. It provides the repeater functions along
contention.
filtering of traffic to reduce congestion and
those known to be within the same
A bridge examines each message on a LAN, "passing"
interconnected LAN (or LANs).
LAN, and forwarding those known to be on the other
no specific relationship to location.
In bridging networks, computer or node addresses have
on the network and accepted only by the
For this reason, messages are sent out to every address
on which network and develop a
intended destination node. Bridges learn which addresses are
be forwarded to the right network.
learning table so that subssequent messages can

Manufacturing Database Server

Bridge
ww.w

Corporate LAN Segment Manufacturing Segment

Fig. 33.
Bridging netwo
ks are generally always interconnected to local area networks since
Win
broadcasting every message to all possible destinations would flood a larger network
unnecessary traffic.
data frame
A bridge works at the data-link (physical network) level of a network, copying a
from one network to the next network along the communications path.
The bridge provides several important functions:
It allows a single LAN to be extended to greater distances.
You can join different types of network links with a bridge while retaining the same broadca
domain. For example, you can bridge two distant LANs with bridges joined by fiber-optic ca
A bridge forwards frames, but a filtering mechanism can be used to prevent unnecessa
frames from propagating across the network.
ating
They provide a barrier that keeps electrical or other problenms on one segment from propagau
to the other segment.
 825
MUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AND OPEN SOURCE CONCEPTS
creates
A bridge isolates each LAN from the Thus, it
e collisions that occur
Collisions occur on other LANs.
other
L
itk the
separate collision domains within same broadcast domain.

Cateway
Def: A gateway is a device or software in the netvork responsible for connecting two f e r e n c
using different protocols. It perform the necessary coversions so that the connece" *
communicate properly.
ts.
Gateways make communication possible between different architectures and enviroT
ment
They repackage and convert data going from one environment to another so that each envirorue
can understand the other's environment data.

A gateway repackages information to match the requirements of the destination syste

Gateways can change the format of a message so that it will conform to the application progra at
the receiving end of the transfer.
A gateway links two systems that do not use the same:

.Communication protocols Data formatting structures

Languages Architecture
For example, electronic mail gateways, such as X.400 gateway, receive messages in one tormat,
and then translate it, and forward in X.400 format used by the receiver, and vice-versa.
Switch vs Hubs

Switch Hub
A switch is a more sophisticated network A hub is a very primitive device and is
device and is more expensive than a hub. comparatively much cheaper.

A switch is an intelligent device, it transmits A hub is a 'dumb' device. It broadcasts the data
the data packets from the source computer to packets to each and every networked computer,
and not just the target computer or set of
only those network computers to which the
data packets are originally intended. computers to which the data packets were
originally intended to be sent.

There is optimum utilization of network Due to their broadcast mechanism of data

bandwidth in case of switches, and bandwidth transmission, there is unnecessary wastage of
wastage is minimal. network bandwidth which results in slow
operation and data transfer speeds.
Hubs are half-duplex devices, i.e. both, data
Switches are full-duplex devices, ie., both, data
transmission and reception can take place transmission arnd reception cannot take place
simultaneously. simultaneously.
Network security is much better with the use Network security is weak in case of hub.
of a switch, as compared to a hub.

Router vs Switch
Here are some points of comparison which highlight the ditferences between a router and
a
switch.
Router Switch
Basically, a router is used to connect computers A switch on the other hand, connects diffa.
belonging to one network with those computerswithin one network.
to other networks. Thus, a
router
Delonging
Connects two or more different networks.
 ******
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