Networking hardware
Networking hardware, also known as network equipment or computer networking devices, are electronic devices that are required for communication and interaction between devices on a computer network. Specifically, they mediate data transmission in a computer network.[1] Units which are the last receiver or generate data are called hosts, end systems or data terminal equipment.
Range
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Networking devices includes a broad range of equipment which can be classified as core network components which interconnect other network components, hybrid components which can be found in the core or border of a network and hardware or software components which typically sit on the connection point of different networks.
One of the most common types of networking hardware today is a copper-based Ethernet adapter which is a standard inclusion on most modern computer systems. Wireless networking has become increasingly popular, especially for portable and handheld devices.
Other networking hardware used in computers includes data center equipment (such as file servers, database servers and storage areas), network services (such as DNS, DHCP, email, etc.) as well as devices which assure content delivery.
Taking a wider view, mobile phones, tablet computers and devices associated with the internet of things may also be considered networking hardware. As technology advances and IP-based networks are integrated into building infrastructure and household utilities, network hardware will become an ambiguous term owing to the vastly increasing number of network-capable endpoints.
Specific devices
Network hardware can be classified by its location and role in the network.
Hybrid
Hybrid components can be found in the core or border of a network.
- Multilayer switch: a switch that, in addition to switching on OSI layer 2, provides functionality at higher protocol layers.
- Protocol converter: a hardware device that converts between two different types of transmission, for interoperation.[2]
- Bridge router (brouter): a device that works as a bridge and as a router. The brouter routes packets for known protocols and simply forwards all other packets as a bridge would.[3]
Border
Hardware or software components which typically sit on the connection point of different networks (for example, between an internal network and an external network) include:
- Proxy server: computer network service which allows clients to make indirect network connections to other network services.[4]
- Firewall: a piece of hardware or software put on the network to prevent some communications forbidden by the network policy.[5] A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted, secure internal network and another outside network, such as the Internet, that is assumed to not be secure or trusted.[6]
- Network address translator (NAT): network service (provided as hardware or as software) that converts internal to external network addresses and vice versa.[7]
- Residential gateway: interface between a WAN connection to an Internet service provider and the home network.
- Terminal server: connects devices with a serial port to a local area network.
End stations
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Other hardware devices used for establishing networks or dial-up connections include:
- Network interface controller (NIC): a device connecting a computer to a computer network.
- Wireless network interface controller: a device connecting the attached computer to a radio-based computer network.
- Modem: device that modulates an analog "carrier" signal (such as sound) to encode digital information, and that also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. Used (for example) when a computer communicates with another computer over a telephone network.
- ISDN terminal adapter (TA): a specialized gateway for ISDN.
- Line driver: a device to increase transmission distance by amplifying the signal; used in base-band networks only.
See also
References
- ^ IEEE 802.3-2012 Clause 9.1
- ^ "ATIS Telecom Glossary". www.atis.org. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
- ^ "bridge router Definition from PC Magazine Encyclopedia". www.pcmag.com. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
- ^ "ATIS Telecom Glossary". www.atis.org. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
- ^ "ATIS Telecom Glossary". www.atis.org. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
- ^ Oppliger, Rolf (May 1997). "Internet Security: FIREWALLS and BEYOND". Communications of the ACM. 40 (5): 94. doi:10.1145/253769.253802. S2CID 15271915.
- ^ "ATIS Telecom Glossary". www.atis.org. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
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