VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY - HO CHI MINH CITY

UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
FACULTY OF COMPUTER SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

COMPUTER NETWORK

Lab 1a

Network Devices

Instructor: Nguyen Hong Nam

Student: Van Chan Duong - 1811824

HO CHI MINH CITY, MARCH 2021

 Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology
Faculty of Computer Science & Engineering

Contents
1 Objectives 2

2 Content 2
2.1 Get to know network devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.2 Understanding functions of network devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.2.1 Network Interface Card (NIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.2.2 Hubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.2.3 Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.2.4 Routers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.2.5 Access points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2.6 Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.3 Connecting the devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

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1 Objectives
• Get to know basic network devices.
• Understand functions of network devices.
• Able to connect different network devices together to form a simple network.

2 Content

2.1 Get to know network devices

• Network Interface Card (NIC)
• Cables
• Hub
• Switches
• Routers
• Access Points
• Modems

2.2 Understanding functions of network devices

2.2.1 Network Interface Card (NIC)

NIC function: NIC allows communications between computers connected via local area
network (LAN) as well as communications over large-scale network through Internet Pro-
tocol (IP).
NIC is both a physical layer and a data link layer device, i.e. it provides the necessary
hardware circuitry so that the physical layer processes and some data link layer processes
can run on it.
Code of NIC processors:
Check NIC of a computer, what is its MAC address? A8-1E-84-53-91-B8
Cable to connect NIC to a network:
Type: Ethernet cable with an RJ-45 connector.
Standard: A network interface build directly into the motherboard.

2.2.2 Hubs

Roles of hub in the network: Hub is used to connect multiple devices in a network.
They are generally used to connect computers in a LAN.

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Main characteristics: The hub contains multiple ports. When a data frame arrives at
a port, it is broadcast to every other port, without considering whether it is destined for
a particular destination or not.
Weaknesses of a hub:
• Collision Domain
Hub lacks the function of collision domain and re-transmission of packets. In fact
it increases more chances of collision in between domains.
• Full Duplex Mode
Hubs cannot communicate in full duplex mode, it can only operate in half duplex
mode. Half duplex mode in essence means that data can be transmitted only once
at a given time. Therefore, hub needs to constantly switch its modes.
• Network Architecture
Hubs cannot support networks that are large in size such as token ring. This is
because hubs needs to share data among all the devices in the network. When more
devices are added, eventually the network will become slow and unstable.
• Network Traffic
Since all attachment are received in post, hubs cannot reduce network traffic. Hence,
even for busy networks, hubs generate high amount of network traffic.
• Bandwidth Wastage
Hubs cannot provide dedicated bandwidth for each device, it has to share them.
Always when sending large information all the bandwidths will be occupied by the
2 computers leaving other computers with slow network.
Hub ports: They generally have fewer ports of 4/12.

2.2.3 Switch

Roles of switch in the network: A switch is a data link layer networking device which
connects devices in a network and uses packet switching to send and receive data over the
network.
Main characteristic of switches: When a data frame arrives at any port of a network
switch, it examines the destination address and sends the frame to the corresponding
device(s). Thus, it supports both unicast and multicast communications.
Differences between hubs and switches:

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Hubs
They operate in the physical layer of the
OSI model.
It is a non-intelligent network device that
sends message to all ports.
It primarily broadcasts messages.
Transmission mode is half duplex.
Collisions may occurs during setup of
transmission when more than one comput-
ers place data simultaneously in the cor-
responding ports.
They are passive devices, they don’t have
any software associated with it.
Switches
They operate in the data link layer of the
OSI model.
It is an intelligent network device that
sends message to selected destination
ports.
It is supports unicast, multicast and
broadcast.
Transmission mode is full duplex.
Collisions do not occur since the commu-
nication is full duplex.
They are active devices, equipped with
network software.

Weaknesses of switches:
• They are more expensive compare to network bridges.
• Network connectivity issues are difficult to be traced through the network switch.
• Broadcast traffic may be troublesome.
• If switches are in promiscuous mode, they are vulnerable to security attacks e.g.
spoofing IP address or capturing of ethernet frames.
• Proper design and configuration is needed in order to handle multicast packets.
• While limiting broadcasts, they are not as good as routers.
Switch ports: They have higher number of ports - 24/48.

2.2.4 Routers

Roles of routers in the network: Routers connect computers and other devices to the
Internet. A router acts as a dispatcher, choosing the best route for your information to
travel. It connects your business to the world, protects information from security threats,
and can even decide which computers get priority over others.
Main characteristics of routers: Routers are multi-port devices with high – speed
backbones. Routers support filtering and encapsulation. Routers are self-learning, as
they can communicate their existence. to other devices and can learn of the existence of
new routers, nodes and LAN segments.
Differences between routers and switches: Router ports: AUX port, AUI port,
Serial port, Ethernet port, Console port, WIC port, HWIC port.

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Router
Router main objective is to connect vari-
ous networks.
Router works in Network Layer.
Router is used in LAN and MAN.
Router sends data in form of packets.
Router follows duplex mode of transmis-
sion.
Less collision in case of Router.
Routing type is Adaptive and Non-
adaptive routing.
Switch
Switch main objective is to connect vari-
ous devices in a network.
Switch works in Data Link Layer.
Switch is used only in LAN.
Switch sends data in form of packets and
frames.
Switch also follows duplex mode of trans-
mission.
In full duplex mode, no collision happens
in switch too.
Switching type is Circuit, Packet and Mes-
sage switching.

2.2.5 Access points

Role of access points in the network: The access point functions as a hub that links
all stations together. It serves as the focal point for communications, increasing the com-
munication range of wireless users.
Main characteristic of access points: They scan for the wireless devices in its range
and all the neighbouring Wi-Fi systems connect to the Access Point to communicate with
the network.
Access points’ interfaces: IBSS, managed, AP, AP/VLAN, WDS, monitor, mesh
point.
Difference between Hubs, Switches, Routers, and Access Points:
Hubs
Hubs are used to connect computers on a network so as to communicate with each
other. Each computer plugs into the hub with a cable, and information sent from
one computer to another passes through the hub.
A hub can’t identify the source or destination of the information it receives, so it
sends the information to all of the computers connected to it, including the one that
sent it. A hub can send or receive information, but it can’t do both at the same
time.
Switches
Switches functions the same way as hubs, but they can identify the intended desti-
nation of the information that they receive, so they send that information to only
the computers that its intended for.
Switches can send and receive information at the same time, and faster than hubs
can. Switches are best recommended on a home or office network where you have
more computers and want to use the network for activities that require passing a

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lot of information between computers.

Routers
Routers are better known as intermediary devices that enable computers and other
network components to communicate or pass information between two networks e.g.
between your home network and the Internet.
The most astounding thing about routers is their capability to direct network traffic.
Routers can be wired (using cables) or wireless. Routers also typically provide built-
in security, such as a firewall.
Access Points
Access points provide wireless access to a wired Ethernet network. An access point
plugs into a hub, switch, or wired router and sends out wireless signals. This enables
computers and devices to connect to a wired network wirelessly.
You can move from one location to another and continue to have wireless access to
a network. When you connect to the Internet using a public wireless network in
an airport, hotel or in public, you are usually connecting through an access point.
Some routers are equipped with a wireless access point capability, in this case you
don’t need a wireless access Point.

2.2.6 Modem

Dial-up modem
A dial-up modem is a communications device that can convert digital signals to analog
signals and analog signals to digital signals, so that data can travel along an analog tele-
phone line. An analog signal consists of a continuous electrical wave, and a digital signal
consists of individual electrical pulses that represent bits grouped together into bytes. A
dial-up modem usually is in the form of an adapter card that you insert in an expansion
slot on a computer’s motherboard. One end of a standard telephone cord attaches to a
port on the modem card and the other end plugs into a telephone outlet.
ADSL modem
A digital subscriber line (DSL) modem is a device used to connect a computer or router
to a telephone line which provides the digital subscriber line service for connection to the
Internet, which is often called DSL broadband.
The term DSL modem is technically used to describe a modem which connects to a single
computer, through an Ethernet port, USB port, or is installed in a computer PCI slot.
The more common DSL router is a standalone device that combines the function of a
DSL modem and a router, and can connect multiple computers through multiple Ether-
net ports or an integral wireless access point. Also called a residential gateway, a DSL
router usually manages the connection and sharing of the DSL service in a home or small

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office network.
Cable modem
A cable modem is a type of network bridge that provides bi-directional data commu-
nication via radio frequency channels on a hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC), radio frequency
over glass (RFoG) and coaxial cable infrastructure. Cable modems are primarily used to
deliver broadband Internet access in the form of cable Internet, taking advantage of the
high bandwidth of a HFC and RFoG network.

2.3 Connecting the devices

Type of network cable used to connect the devices:

a) Computer and hub: 10base straight cable, 100baseT straight cable.
b) Computer and switch: 10base straight cable, 100baseT straight cable.
c) Computer and router: 10baseT Crossed cable, 100baseT Crossed cable.
d) Hub and hub: 10baseT Crossed cable, 100baseT Crossed cable.
e) Hub and switch: 10baseT Crossed cable, 100baseT Crossed cable.
f) Hub and router: 10base straight cable, 100baseT straight cable.
g) Switch and switch: 10baseT Crossed cable, 100baseT Crossed cable.
h) Switch and router: 10base straight cable, 100baseT straight cable.
k) Router and router: 10baseT Crossed cable, 100baseT Crossed cable.

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