Network Devices
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What is a wireless access point?
• It provides a link between wireless and wired networks. • It creates a wireless LAN that allows WiFi-enabled devices to connect to a wired network.
Examples of wireless access points:
• WiFi or Bluetooth hotspot e.g WiFi hotspot in a coffee shop or airport to connect to a wired network. • It may be a separate device or built into another device such as a router.
What are routers used for?
• Routers are used to transfer data packets between networks.
How do routers work?
• They receive data packets and use the IP address in the packet header to determine the best route to transmit the data. • Data is transferred from router to router across the internet towards the destination.
What do routers store?
• A router stores the IP address of each computer connected to it on the network and uses a list called a routing table to calculate the quickest and shortest route to transfer data.
What is a switch used for?
• To connect devices together on a LAN.
How do switches work?
• It receives data packets from a connected node, reads the destination address in the packet and forwards the data directly to its destination.
What does a switch generate?
• A list of the MAC addresses of all devices connected to it when it receives data, and must scan for a matching destination address before sending.
Switches vs Hubs -
• An alternative to a witch is a hub. • However, a hub is slower and less secure. • This is because a hub forwards a copy of received data to all connected nodes.
What is a NIC?
• A network interface controller/card is an internal piece of hardware that is required for the computers to connect to a network.
What does the NIC include?
• A MAC address which is used when sending data across a LAN.
What is the purpose of plugging in an Ethernet cable into the network card?
• To allow data to be exchanged between the device and a network.
What did a NIC used to be, and what is it now?
• Used to be a separate expansion card. • It is now typically embedded on the motherboard.
What is transmission media?
• The communication channel along which data is transferred.
Ethernet Cables:
• Used typically on a LAN to transfer data between nodes and hardware such as switches. • Examples include Cat5e and Cat6.
Fibre Optic Cables:
• Very fast • More expensive • Fragile • Used to send data quickly along a WAN. • Data is sent as pulses of light.
Coaxial Cables:
• Older • Slower • Cheaper • Not used as much in modern times as they can be affected by electromagnetic interference.