A full list of
Computer networking devices
are units that mediate
data in a
computer network. Computer
networking devices are also called
network equipment, Intermediate Systems
(IS) or InterWorking Unit (IWU). Units
which are the last receiver or generate
data are called
hosts or
data terminal equipment.
List of
computer networking devices
Common
basic networking devices:
-
Gateway:
device sitting at a network node for
interfacing with another network
that uses different protocols. Works
on
OSI layers 4 to 7.
-
Router:
a specialized network device that
determines the next network point to
which to forward a data packet
toward its destination. Unlike a
gateway, it cannot interface
different protocols. Works on
OSI layer 3.
-
Bridge:
a device that connects multiple
network segments along the
data link layer. Works on
OSI layer 2.
-
Switch:
a device that allocates traffic from
one network segment to certain lines
(intended destination(s)) which
connect the segment to another
network segment. So unlike a hub a
switch splits the network traffic
and sends it to different
destinations rather than to all
systems on the network. Works on
OSI layer 2.
-
Hub:
connects multiple Ethernet segments
together making them act as a single
segment. When using a hub, every
attached device shares the same
broadcast domain and the same
collision domain. Therefore,
only one
computer connected to the hub is
able to transmit at a time.
Depending on the network topology,
the hub provides a basic level 1
OSI model connection among the
network objects (workstations,
servers, etc). It provides bandwidth
which is shared among all the
objects, compared to
switches, which provide a
dedicated connection between
individual nodes. Works on
OSI layer 1.
-
Repeater:
device to amplify or regenerate
digital signals received while
setting them from one part of a
network into another. Works on
OSI layer 1.
Some
hybrid network devices:
Hardware or software components that
typically sit on the connection point of
different networks, e.g. between an
internal network and an external
network:
-
Proxy:
computer
network service which allows
clients to make indirect network
connections to other network
services
-
Firewall:
a piece of hardware or software put
on the network to prevent some
communications forbidden by the
network policy
-
Network Address
Translator:
network service provide as hardware
or software that converts internal
to external network addresses and
vice versa
Other
hardware for establishing networks or
dial-up connections:
-
Multiplexer:
device that combines several
electrical signals into a single
signal
-
Network Card:
a piece of computer hardware to
allow the attached computer to
communicate by 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, as a computer
communicating with another computer
over the telephone network
-
ISDN terminal adapter
(TA): a specialized
gateway for ISDN
-
Line Driver:
a device to increase transmission
distance by amplifying the signal.
Base-band networks only.
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