Network Components
• Device for the common connection of computers, printers and other network devices.
• Each can be disconnected without disrupting communication between the others.
• Hubs operate at the physical layer of the OSI Model.• A switch reads the MAC address of the incoming frames.
• This allows an incoming frame to be sent to only the computer it is addressed to, so reducing network traffic.• Switches operate at both the physical layer and the data link layer of the OSI Model
• A device used to connect networks of different types, such as those using different topologies and protocols.
• You can use routers, to segment a large network, and to connect local area segments to a single network backbone that uses a different media or standard (eg Ethernet to Fibre Optic) . They can also be used to connect LAN's to a WAN's.
• They can operate at the first three layers of the OSI Model. This means they can switch and route packets across multiple networks. Routers determine the best path for sending data.