Network Devices
As you may know, network devices are physical devices that are known to communicate between hardware on a computer network. Through these hardware devices, we can get two or more computers or electronic devices connected to each other. so that all of them can share data and communicate among themselves.
Types of network devices:-
- Hub
- Switch
- Router
- Bridge
- Gateway
- Modem
- Repeater
- Access Point
Hub:-
A hub is a network device that helps unite multiple computer network devices. The hub also acts as a repeater where it improves the signals even after the distance on the connecting cable. Hub is the easiest network connecting device because it stores LAN components from the same protocol.
The hub can be used with both digital and analog data signals but needs to be configured according to the data formatting that arrives at the settings such as the data included in the digital format the hub is packaged in. To forward the form and if the incoming data is analog, the hub passes it as a signal.
Hub devices do not perform data packet filtering or addressing functions so that they can send data packets to all connected devices. Hubs are no longer used and more advanced communication devices are being replaced with switches and routers. This hub is a multiport repeater. This hub is used to connect multiple cables connected to different branches.
Types of HUB Device:-
- Active Hubs:-
- Passive Hubs:-
- Intelligent Hub:-
Active Hubs:- It is a device that has its own power supply and can clean, rectify and distribute the signal along with this network. It also acts as a repeater and cable.
They are used to increase the maximum distance between nodes. Strong signal or not because it reproduces bits of data. Also called multiport repeaters, it acts as an interface. It also checks them before sending the data. Improvements These features can be easily removed for network problems.
Passive Hubs:- Hub devices that collect cables and power supplies from the node of the active hub. This hub operates the signal relay on the clean and amplified network and cannot be used to increase the distance between nodes. It acts as a connector and uses the topology to connect multiple cables.
Intelligent Hub:- It acts as an active hub and has the capability of remote management. They also provide network devices for flexible data tiers.
It allows administrators to monitor traffic through the hub and configure each port in the hub. It manages network resources to create perfect network performance. Through this network problem, it can be identified at the reallocation.
Use Of HUB:-
- These network hubs are considered switch accessories because they are not very expensive.
- The Effective Protocol Analyzer installation is used instead of Network Tap.
- The network hub is efficient for receiving large traffic loads.
- Hubs are specially taken to work for smaller networks.
- When we use the switch in the hub location, we must first configure the switch settings.
- Each data package is taken to work for the network extension to be replicated to the network hub.
Switch:-
As you would know, the switch is usually more advanced than the hub. A switch is a multiport device that increases the efficiency of the network.
Switches retain limited routing information about nodes on the internal network and allow connections to systems such as hubs or routers. LAN strands are usually connected using switches. The switch helps to find the correct destination by reading the hardware of the incoming packages.

The data switch can check for errors before proceeding, which makes it very efficient as it does not forward packages that are wrong and only continue with the package that is good to repair the port.
Use switches because of the virtual circuit capabilities, network efficiency improves over hubs or routers. The switch also enhances network security because it is more difficult to verify virtual circuits with a network monitor.
Switches can be in the form of equipment where some combined router and hub capabilities may have the best potential. The switch is a data link layer device. Which can operate on the data link or the data layer of the OSI model. Which means it can act as both a switch and a router.
Advantages of Switches:-
- Use switches to increase network bandwidth.
- Switch helps to improve network performance.
- There are very few frame collisions on people who use switches over the network.
- It is smarter than the Hub.
- The switch can be directly connected to the workstation.
Disadvantages Of Switches:-
- Use switches to increase network bandwidth.
- Switch helps to improve network performance.
- There are very few frame collisions on people who use switches over the network.
- It is smarter than the Hub.
- The switch can be directly connected to the workstation.
Gateway:-
The gateway will have a way to connect the two networks which are capable of operating on different network models. They basically work as a messenger agent that takes data from a system, interprets it, and transfers it to another system.
Gateways are also called protocol converters and they can work at any network layer. But it works on the transport layer and OP basically the OSI gateway model. Gateway is more complex than switching or router.
Modem:-
Modems (modular-demodulators) are used to send digital signals over analog telephone lines. The digital signals are converted into analog signals with different frequencies by the modem and sent to the modem at the place of the receiver. Get a modem to convert the reverse and provide a digital output to the device connected to the modem.
Repeater:-
A repeater is an electronic device that amplifies the received signal. These are devices that receive a signal, transmit it at a higher level or at higher power. Where the signal can cover remotely, the repeater operates at the physical layer. Repeaters do not add signals while the signals are weak and slightly copy the signal and reproduce its original strength.
Access Point:-
An access point (AP) is a wired or wireless connection but is generally a wireless device. A wireless access point (WAPs) is a transmitter device and is used to create a recipient wireless LAN (WLAN). It operates on a physical layer.
It does not amplify the signal.
While the signal is weakened, they reproduce the signals on the same network. In order to increase the length, which can transmit signals on the same network. It acts as a router that passes data transmission from one of the access points or data transmission from access points to other access points, standard cable networks connecting both wireless devices.
Router:-
A router is a device like a switch that routes data packages based on its IP address. This router is primarily a network layer device. A router usually connects LAN and WAN together. Routers help package wearables to their destinations through interconnected network devices using different network topologies. The router stores information about the stored network.

Can be configured to operate routing and use an Access Control List (ACL) as a packet filtering firewall. A Channel Service Unit/Data Service Unit (CSU/DSU), in conjunction with a router, is also used to translate framing LAN into WAN frames. This is also important because LAN and WAN use different network protocols.
Advantage of Router:-
- Network routers devices can work on both LAN networks and WAN networks.
- A network router is able to define the best way to get an information or a data packet to follow.
- This device is capable of filtering the broadcast between two interfaces.
- Routers can connect multiple media and architectures.
The disadvantage of Router:-
- Network routers are very expensive compared to other network devices.
- Routers work only according to the routing protocol
- Whenever more data has to be filtered, its speed slows down.
Also Read:- Types of Routers
Conclusion:-
I hope you have understood what are network devices and how many types are there, if you have any queries then you can ask by commenting.