Introduction
So far this book has examined topologies, media access methods, networking standards, and cable types and connectors. To complete our examination of networking on a physical level, this chapter looks at the network devices that are used to create networks.
Identify the purpose, features, and functions of the following network components:
Hubs
Switches
Bridges
Routers
Gateways
CSU/DSU
Network interface cards (NICs), ISDN adapters, and system area network cards
Wireless access points (WAPs)
Modems
NOTE
Repeaters Traditionally, any discussion of networking components would include repeaters, but today repeaters are a little outdated. Repeaters were once used to increase the usable length of the cable, and they were most commonly associated with co-axial network configurations. Because coaxial networks have now fallen out of favor, and because the functionality of repeaters has been built in to other devices, such as hubs and switches, repeaters are rarely used. For this reason, CompTIA has elected to leave them out of the required knowledge for the Network+ exam.
Each of these devices fulfills a specific role in a network; however, only the largest and most complex environments use all of them. We'll begin our discussion of networking devices with perhaps the most simple and common network device used today: the hub.