Network Hardware

It is anexpansion cardthat enables a computerto

connect to a network; such as a home network, or the
Internet using anEthernet cablewith anRJ45connector.

Network Hardware

Network
Interface
Card (NIC)

 Unshielded twisted pair is the most common kind of

copper telephone wiring. Twisted pair is the ordinary
copper wire that connects home and many business
computers to the telephone company. To reduce
crosstalk or electromagnetic induction between pairs
of wires, two insulated copper wires are twisted
around each other.

Network Hardware

Copper
Cable
Unshielded
Twisted Pair
(UTC)

Network Hardware

Fibre Optic
Cable

Afibre optic cableconsists of a bundle of glass

threads, each of which is capable of transmitting
messages modulated onto light waves.Fibre
opticshas several advantages over traditional metal
communications lines:Fibre optic cables have a much
greater bandwidth than metal cables.

Network Hardware

Hubs

AnEthernet hub, activehub,network hub,

repeaterhub, multiport repeater, or simplyhub is
anetworkhardware device for connecting
multipleEthernetdevices together and making them
act as a singlenetworksegment.

Network Hardware

Routers

A routeris a networking device that forwards data

packets between computer networks. Routers
perform the "traffic directing" functions on
theInternet. A data packet is typically forwarded from
one router to another through the networks that
constitute theinternetworkuntil it reaches its
destination node.

 Awireless routeris a device that performs the

functions of arouterand also includes the functions
of awirelessaccess point. It is used to provide access
to the Internet or a private computer network

Network Hardware

Wireless
router

Network Hardware

Bridges

Abridgeis a device that separates two or

morenetworksegments within one
logicalnetwork.Abridgeis usually placed between
two separate groups of computers that talk with each
other, but not that much with the computers in the
other group.

Network Hardware

Switches

Anetwork switch(also calledswitchinghub, bridging

hub, officially MAC bridge) is a
computernetworkingdevice that connects devices
together on a computernetwork, by using
packetswitchingto receive, process and forward data
to the destination device.

Network Hardware

Network
Topology

Network topologyis the arrangement of the various

elements (links, nodes, etc.) of a computernetwork.
Essentially, it is the topologicalstructure of
anetworkand may be depicted physically or logically.

 Star topologyis a networktopologywhere each

individual piece of a network is attached to a central
node (often called a hub or switch).

Network Hardware

Star
Topologies