By George

Pegg

Hub
A hub is a device that connects multiple
computers together in a network to make a
Local Areas Network (LAN). This allows them
to share data packets.
You can also 'daisy chain' hubs to allow even
more computers to join the network. However
there is a problem with doing this - see
'Switches' for more details.

Switch

A router is a network device that connects together two or more networks.

A common use joining a home network (LAN) to the Internet (WAN).

It has the task of forwarding data packets to their destination by the most
efficient route.
In order to do this, the router has a micro computer inside it. This holds a table
in memory that contains a list of all the networks it is connected to, along with
the latest information on how busy each path in the network is, at that
moment. This is called the 'routing table

When a data packet arrives, the router does the following

Reads the data packet's destination address

Looks up all the paths it has available to get to that address
Checks on how busy each path is at the moment
Sends the packet along the least congested (fastest) path

Router

A router is a network device that connects together two or more networks.

A common use joining a home network (LAN) to the Internet (WAN).

In order to do this, the router has a micro computer inside it. This holds a
table in memory that contains a list of all the networks it is connected to,
along with the latest information on how busy each path in the network is,
at that moment. This is called the 'routing table
When a data packet arrives, the router does the following
Reads the data packet's destination address
Looks up all the paths it has available to get to that address
Checks on how busy each path is at the moment
Sends the packet along the least congested (fastest) path

Modem
Before the days of broadband Internet connections, most computers
connected to the Internet via telephone lines (dial-up).
The problem with using telephone lines is that they are designed to
carry voices, which are analogue signals. They are not designed for digital
data.
So, simply put, a modem is required because computers are
digital devices and the telephone system is analogue. The
modem converts from digital to analogue and from analogue to digital.

Bridge
A Bridge does just what you would expect it to do - it
joins two networks together so as far as data packets
are concerned it looks like one large network
A bridge is not as capable as a router and it is less
expensive.
Both networks have to be using the same protocol
(rules).

Network card
Any computer that is to be connected to a network, needs to
have a network interface card (NIC).
Most modern computers have these devices built into the
motherboard, but in some computers you have to add an
extra expansion card (small circuit board
In a laptop, the wireless radio antenna is usually built in to the
side of the screen, so you don't need to have a long bit of
plastic sticking out the side of your computer.

Server
A server is a computer or device on a network that manages
network resources
There are many different types of servers. For example:
File server: a computer and storage device dedicated to storing files.
Any user on the network can store files on the server.
Print server: a computer that manages one or more printers.
Network server: a computer that manages network traffic.
Database server: a computer system that processes database queries.

Servers are often dedicated, meaning that they perform no

other tasks besides their server tasks.

Proxy Server

A proxy server is setup to share a resource, usually an Internet connection.

Works as a buffer between the Internet and a network.

Other computers can request a web page via the proxy server. The proxy
server will then get the page using its Internet connection, and pass it back to
the computer who asked for it.

Here are some uses:

Schools use proxy servers to block offensive content.
They can be used to protect anonymity on the Internet. Every
server connected to the internet will have an IP address. Using the
proxy server means that the main server for the network being
protected is anonymous to all the other servers on the internet.