Network Components

• Client: Device end-user accesses the network with, such as laptop, tablet, smartphone, tv, server, any terminal device etc

• Server: Provides resources to the rest of the rest of the network

  • Different servers provide different functions, such as an E-mail server, Web server, File server, Chat server, and Print server

  • Can be a dedicated server hardware/software or can be a device that is acting like a server for a particular function

• Hub: Receives information in one port and rebroadcasts it out to all the other ports

• Wireless Access Point(WAP): Device that allows wireless devices to connect into a wired network

  • Acts as a wireless hub

• Switch: Switches are smart version of Hub.

  • It learns what devices are on which switch ports.

  • Only forwards traffic received from a port to the destination port based on the device's MAC address.

• Router: Connects tow or more networks together.

  • Intelligently forwards traffic to and from a network based on its logical address(IP)

  • Routers use Internet Protocol(IP) address to determine routing of traffic.

• Media: Connects two devices or a device to a port.

  • Made from copper cable, fiber optic cable, or radio frequency waves(wifi)

• Wide Area Network (WAN) Link: Physically connects networks together.

  • Internet is just big series of WAN links.

  • Connects your internal(e.g. home network) network to the external network or the internet.

  • WAN links such as: leased lines, DSL, Cable, Fiber Optic, Satellite, Cellular, Microwave, ...

  • Connects internal network to external networks, such as a SOHO(small office home office) network to Internet.

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