Computer Hardware

Computer Hardware

1. Router

   • Transmit Packets between Networks
   • Gateway between two networks
   • If you want to transfer data out of an external network it goes through the router

2. Switch

   • Transfers Frames inside a network
   • Only recognises devices that its directly connected to.
   • Only looks at the MAC address of the frame
   • Not interested in Packets

3. Hub

   • Doesn't care about Packets and Frames
   • Not an Intelligent device, doesn't know what data it's receiving or who/what its for
   • When it receives a Frame from one of its connection, the hub transmits a copy to every other connection that its linked to
   • Send copies of data, to every device that receives it, if its connected to the hub.
   • Wasteful of network resources taking up unnecessary bandwidth

4. Wireless Access Point

   • Allows you to connect devices to network via WI-FI instead of cable
   • Can be connected to a Switch/Router and acts like its connected with wire
   • Mobile Devices connected using WAP will still use a MAC and IP address for use on the network to transmit and receive data