NETWORKING COMPONENTS

Susan CheathamJune 30, 2013LTEC 4550.020

There are several things that go into creating a network. Following are some of these and a brief description of each.

HubSwitchRouterBridgeGatewayFirewallWireless AP

Be sure to Have a picture of the deviceA Diagram of how the device worksExplain how the device worksExplain when and where the device might be usedProvide a range of the cost of the device

Finally, provide an example that uses all the devices in a network diagram.Note: You may or may not need more than one slide per device. These are all individual devices.Upload to the classes.lt.unt.edu system (which is an exercise in the use of SFTP).

Hub A hub is a small rectangular box

with 4-24 ports on the back. These are typically found in homes or small companies. They are used to network several devices to one network using Ethernet cables. They plug directly into a wall outlet. Some contain an uplink port to connect to another hub. A hub cannot process information, it merely receives incoming data and is classified as a Layer 1 device on the OSI model. The hub is the lowest end of networking devices. Price ranges are usually between $20 and $70.

Hubs would commonly be found in a star topology network .

Switch A switch is a networking device that links network

segments or devices so they can talk…such as a computer and printer. Devices are connected through Ethernet cables.

Switch This is what the back of a switch can look

like when all ports are in use. It can look quite messy. This is when cable management is very important.

SwitchThe price for switches can range anywhere from $10. to $10,000 depending on the size and type of switch. A high end Cisco switch will run you in the thousands. You can purchase a lower end switch for home use or a higher end managed switch for office use. Depending on the type of switch, they can operate on the OSI model from layer 2 to layer 7.

Router A router is a networked device that

It is considered to be a more powerful device than a hub or switch. Routers use a set of rules called Routing Protocols.

In a home, the router can route information such as web pages, email and videos between your computer and the internet. It usually has built in security features. Examples of routers in the home could be the cable or DSL modem. Routers can also provide Wireless access.

The more devices you have at home to connect, the better router you will want. A router works at layer 3 on the OSI model with IP addressing. A home router costs anywhere from $30 - $300.

Routers for Business

Low end business routers will start around $200 and range to the enterprise routers which are much more sophisticated. Enterprise routers connect large businesses or ISP’s using core routers. These routers can forward information at great speeds along optical fiber lines. Core routers are the most expensive end of the routers costing $500,000 - $1,000,000 for high end routers. These type of routers are used by big time carriers such as Time Warner, AOL, Sprint and Telekom to name a few.

In this diagram you can see how switches and routers work together in this network environment.

Network BridgeA network bridge is used to create a connection between two separate computer networks or to divide one network into two. These can be used at home or work.

Bridges operate on Layer 2 of the OSI model and help divide traffic on a LAN by dividing it into two segments.

BRIDGE

This diagram is an example of how you might use a networking bridge in your home to connect WiFi devices in different rooms. The average cost of a network bridge ranges from $$ - $$$$.

Gateway

A gateway connects network devices that use different protocols. Examples of gateways are SMTP for email translation, Netware gateways which allow Windows clients to access file sharing and printing on a NetWare server. In a home, the DSL or cable modem acts as the gateway device connecting your home computer to the internet. Home devices start at about $50 and go into the $500 range while enterprise devices can run into the thousands.

FIREWALL

In computer networking, the firewall often represented by a brick wall is actually either a

piece of software or hardware, usually the combination of both, acting as agents to

protect your computer / network from unwanted or malicious applications or users.

Most routers act as firewall protectors in a home. Enterprise protection gets much more complicated and is taken

very seriously. Most companies employee network security engineers to protect their data. Military, medical, banking and governments have data

that needs to stay secure from intruders seeking to obtain

information illegally. A home firewall runs $100 - $200 while corporate firewalls run into the thousands.

WIRELESS ACCESS POINTS

Access Points

Access points are small devices that have built in adapters, antenna and radio transmitters. They act as a transmitter and receiver of WLAN radio signals. An AP usually attaches to a wired Ethernet connection and then provides radio frequency to other wireless enabled devices. Most devices are secured and require some type of authentication or password to connect.

Home Wireless AP

In a home, a wireless router can act as a WiFi throughout your home so that your devices don’t have to be wired through an Ethernet cable. Home wireless routers usually start about $100 and go up to about $500.

OFFICE WIRELESS AP’S

In a business, AP’s are placed strategically throughout a building for proper coverage.

Using AP’s reduces cabling. Most enterprise AP’s start at about $500.

Networking diagram of all of these devices.