NETWORKING

DEVICES
By: Earl Larwence B. Pelayo, MIT
Topics

■ Different Networking Hardware/Devices

■ Difference of the common networking devices
■ The use and function of a specific network device.
Network hardware/devices

■ Ethernet Cable
■ Network Interface Controller
■ Hub
■ Switch
■ Router
■ Modem
Ethernet cable

An Ethernet cable is a common type of network cable used with wired networks.
Ethernet cables connect devices such as PCs, routers, and switches within a local area
network.
Two types of ethernet cables

■ STRAIGHT TROUGH Ethernet Cable

■ CROSSOVER Ethernet Cable
ethernet Wiring schemes
 Straight Through Cable

STRAIGHT THROUGH Ethernet cables are

the standard cable used for almost all
purposes, and are often called "patch
cables". It is highly recommend you
duplicate the color order as shown on the
left. Note how the green pair is not side-
by-side as are all the other pairs. This
configuration allows for longer wire runs.
 Crossover cable

A CROSSOVER ethernet cable is a crossover

cable for Ethernet used to connect computing devices
together directly. It is most often used to connect two
devices of the same type, e.g. two computers (via their
network interface controllers) or two switches to each
other.
 Network interface controller
A network interface controller (NIC, also
known as a network interface card,
network adapter, LAN adapter or
physical network interface, and by
similar terms) is a computer hardware
component that connects a computer to
a computer network.
 Network hub
A hub, also called a network hub, is a
common connection point for devices in a
network. Hubs are devices commonly used
to connect segments of a LAN. The hub
contains multiple ports. When a packet
arrives at one port, it is copied to the other
ports so that all segments of the LAN can
see all packets.
 Network Switch
A Switch is networking hardware that
connects devices on a computer network by
using packet switching to receive and forward
data to the destination device.

A network switch operates on the network layer

2 of the OSI model. In a local area network
(LAN) using Ethernet, a network switch
determines where to send each incoming
message frame by looking at the physical
device address (or MAC address). Switches
maintain tables that match each MAC address,
to the port which the MAC address is received.

Unlike the hub the switch is considered as an

intelligent device
 MAC Address
A media access control address (MAC address) is a unique identifier assigned to a
network interface controller (NIC) for use as a network address in communications
within a network segment

MAC addresses are primarily assigned by device manufacturers, and are therefore
often referred to as the burned-in address, or as an Ethernet hardware address,
hardware address, and physical address. Each address can be stored in hardware,
such as the card's read-only memory, or by a firmware mechanism
Mac address for laptops
Mac address for routers/switches
Mac address for desktops/nic
To view mac address in a running
device
ipconfig /all
 Router
A router is a networking device that forwards
data packets between computer networks.
Routers perform the traffic directing
functions on the Internet. Data sent through
the internet, such as a web page or email, is
in the form of data packets. A packet is
typically forwarded from one router to another
router through the networks that constitute
an internetwork (e.g. the Internet) until it
reaches its destination node.
 Modem
A modem is a hardware device that
converts data from a digital format,
intended for communication directly
between devices with specialized
wiring, into one suitable for a
transmission medium such as
telephone lines or radio.
Hub vs. Switch vs. Router
Hub Vs Switch

Hubs and Switches are used to exchange data within a

LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN)
Router

Unlike the switches and hubs the Router can read IP addresses, coming from its name
router, the Router routes or forwards data from one network to another base on their IP
address

Router is the gateway of a network

Hub vs. Switch vs. Router

■ Hubs and switches are used to create networks

■ Routers are used to connect networks

Router vs modem

Modem converts the analog signals to digital signals so that our device can
communicate with the internet The router routes the converted signals to the devices.
References

■ https://www.diffen.com/difference/Hub_vs_Switch
■ https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/modem-vs-router/
■ Wikipedia for the definitions