Network Hardware (Switches, Routers, Gateways, Hub, Cables)

Network Hardware (Switches, Routers,
Gateways, Hub, Cables )
1
Functions of network devices
• Separating (connecting) networks or
expanding network
• e.g. repeaters, hubs, bridges, routers,
brouters, switches, gateways
• Remote access
• e.g. 56K Modems and ADSL
modems
2
Repeaters and Hubs
• Repeaters or hubs work at the OSI physical layer to
regenerate the network’s signal and resend them to
other segments
• Primitive hub can be viewed as a multiport repeater
• It regenerates data and broadcasts them to all
ports
Hub
3
4
5
Limitations and Features
• Cannot link unlike segments

• Cannot join segments with different access methods
(e.g. CSMA/CD and token passing)
• Do not isolate and filter packets
• Can connect
different types of
media
• The most economic
way of expanding
networks
6
Bridges
• Has one input and one output
• Used to isolate network traffic and computers
• Has the intelligent to examine incoming packet
source and destination addresses
• But cannot
interpret higher-
level information
• Hence cannot
filter packet
according to its
protocol
7
How Bridges Work
• Bridges work at the Media Access Control Sub-

layer of the OSI model
• Routing table is built
to record the segment
no. of address
• If destination address
is in the same segment
as the source address,
stop transmit
• Otherwise, forward to
8 the other segment
Differences Between Bridges and Repeaters
Repeaters Bridges
OSI layer Physical layer Data link layer
Data Regenerate data at Regenerate data

regeneration the signal level at the packet
level
Reduce network No Yes
traffic
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Switches
• Switches operate at the Data Link layer (layer 2)
of the OSI model
• Can interpret address information
• Switches resemble bridges and can be considered
as multiport bridges
• By having multiports,
can better use limited
bandwidth and prove
more cost-effective
than bridge
Cisco Catalyst 2900 switch
10
• Switches divide a network into several isolated
channels
• Packets sending from 1 channel will not go to
another if not specify
• Each channel has its own capacity and need not be
shared with other channels
Hub 3.3Mbps
10Mbps
Switch 3.3Mbps
3.3Mbps
10Mbps
10Mbps
11 10Mbps
Routers
• Layer 2 Switches cannot take advantage of multiple
paths
• Routers work at the OSI layer 3 (network layer)
• They use the

“logical address”
of packets and
routing tables to
determine the best
path for data
delivery
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How Routers Work
• As packets are passed from routers to routers, Data
Link layer source and destination addresses are
stripped off and then recreated
• Enables a router to route a packet from a TCP/IP
Ethernet network to a TCP/IP token ring network
• Only packets with known network addresses will be
passed - hence reduce traffic
• Routers can listen to a network and identify its
busiest part
• Will select the most cost effective path for
13 transmitting packets
Distinguishing Between Bridges
and Routers
• Bridges forward everything

they don’t recognize
• Routers select the best
path
• Routers are layer 3

devices which recognize
network address
• Bridges are layer 2
devices which look at
the MAC sublayer node
14 address
Gateway – A gateway, as the name suggests, is a
passage to connect two networks together that may
work upon different networking models. They
basically work as the messenger agents that take data
from one system, interpret it, and transfer it to another
system. Gateways are also called protocol converters
and can operate at any network layer. Gateways are
generally more complex than switch or router.
15
16
Gateways make communication possible between different
architectures and environments. They repackage and convert
data going from one environment to another so that each
environment can understand the other's environment data.
A gateway repackages information to match the requirements
of the destination system. Gateways can change the format of a
message so that it will conform to the application program at
the receiving end of the transfer.
A gateway links two systems that do not use the same:
•Communication protocols
•Data formatting structures
•Languages
•Architecture
For example, electronic mail gateways, such as X.400
gateway, receive messages in one format, and then translate it,
17 and forward in X.400 format used by the receiver, and vice
Summary
• Repeaters are the least expensive way to expand a
network, but they are limited to connecting two
segments
• Bridges function similar to repeaters, but can
understand the node addresses
• Switches can be considered as multiport bridges, can
divide a network into some logical channels
• Routers interconnect networks and provide filtering
functions. They can determine the best route
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Network Hardware (Switches, Routers,

Gateways, Hub, Cables )

• Cannot link unlike segments

• Bridges work at the Media Access Control Sub-

OSI layer Physical layer Data link layer

Data Regenerate data at Regenerate data

• They use the

• Bridges forward everything

• Routers are layer 3

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