HARDWARE
NETWORK HARDWARE
This page covers the key hardware components that make up a computer network.
Network Endpoints
Devices that send and receive data within a network, acting as the origin or destination of network communication.
Node
A node is an individual, group, device, or entity that exists within a network. In computer networks, nodes can send, receive, or pass on data.
Servers
A server is a computer or system that provides resources, services, or functionality to other devices or programs, known as clients, within a network.
Connection Devices
Hardware that manages and directs how data travels across a network, ensuring it reaches the correct destination efficiently.
Hub/Smart Hub
A hub is a device that sends incoming data to all connected devices. Because every device receives the same data, hubs can cause data collisions and slow down network communication.
Router
Routers help solve the problem of how vast amounts of data are communicated. They track where a data packet has come from and decide where it should be sent next, using stored network address information.
Switch
A network switch has an important advantage over a hub. It can look at the address being sent to it and identify the correct destination port or computer, rather than transmitting the data to every connected device.
WAP
A wireless access point, or WAP, enables wireless devices to connect to a wired network. It acts as a bridge between Wi-Fi devices and the rest of the network.