CONNECTINGDEVICES

LANs or WANs do not normally operate in

isolation. They are connected to one another
or to the Internet. To connect LANs and WANs
together
we
use
connecting
devices.
Connecting devices can operate in different
layers of the Internet model. We discuss three
kinds of connecting devices: repeaters (or
hubs), bridges (or two-layer switches), and
routers (or three-layer switches).

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TopicsDiscussedintheSection

Repeaters
Bridges
Routers

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What are central connecting

devices?
Hubs, switches, and routers act as central connecting
devices
Central connecting devices are responsible for:
connecting hosts
transmitting data
Different central connecting devices perform these
functions in different ways

How do hubs function?

Hosts send data to a hub
The hub then broadcasts
that data to all other
connected hosts on the
network

How do switches function?

Hosts send data to a
switch
Switches direct data to its
intended destination
Unlike hubs, switches can
send and receive data
simultaneously
Switches are the most
common device used to
connect hosts to a
network

Switch
Switches work the same
was as a hub, but they can
identify the intended
recipient of the data
Switches can send and
receive data at the same
time

How do routers function?

Routers are at the edge
of LANs
They act as a gateway
to other networks
Routers allow
communication between
hosts on different
networks

Internet
24.136.72.110
192.168.1.1

Routers enable
computers to Router
communicate and
allow
communication
between two
networks such as
your home network
and the Internet
This
communications
link between the
one network and
the other is where
the LAN ends

Inter
net
24.136.
72.110

192.1
68.1.1

Connecting devices

Repeater or hub

Sent

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Maintained

Discarded

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Discarded

Note

A repeater forwards every bit; it has no

filtering capability.

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Note

A bridge has a table used in filtering

decisions.

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Figure 3.42

Bridge

Bridge table

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Address

Port

71:2B:13:45:61:41
71:2B:13:45:61:42
64:2B:13:45:61:12
64:2B:13:45:61:13

1
2
3
4

13

Note

A router is a three-layer (physical, data link,

and network) device.

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Note

A repeater or a bridge connects segments

of a LAN.
A router connects independent LANs or
WANs to create an internetwork (internet).

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