13.

10 Network Devices
Modem(Modulation/Demodulation):
a) A computer peripheral that allows you to connect and
communicate with other computers via telephone lines. It changes
digital signal into analog signal and vice versa for transmission over
telephone line.
b) Uses t hree types of modulation techniques for transmission of
data:
i) AM(Amplitude Modulation)
ii) FM(Frequency Modulation)
iii) PM(Phase Modulation)
c) Converts digital signals into A/F(Audio Frequency) tones which are
in the frequency range that the telephone lines can transmit.
d) Modems come in two varieties:
i) Internal Modems: fixed within the computer
ii) External Modems: connected as peripherals
RJ-45(Registered Jack-45)
a) Eight wire connector used to connect computer on LANs especially
Ethernet
b) Looks very much similar to the telephone wires connector but it is
wider than that.
Ethernet card
a) LAN architecture developed by Xerox Corp. and DEC and Intel.
b) Ethernet uses star or bus topologies and can support data transfer
rates up to 10 Mbps.
c) Contains connection for either coaxial or twisted pair cables or both.
Hub
a) Hardware device used to connect several computers together.
b) Similar to a concentrator a device that provides a central
connection point for cables from different points.
c) Hubs can be of two types-
i) Active hubs- electrically amplify the signals as it moves from
one connected device to another.
ii) Passive hubs- allow the signal to pass from one computer to
another without any change.
Switch
a) Used to segment networks into different subnetworks called
subnets or LAN Segment.
b) Responsible for filtering i.e. transforming data in a specific way and
forwarding packets.
c) Support any packet protocol.
Repeater
a) Device that amplifies and restores signals for long distance
transmission.
b) Two types :
i) Amplifier : merely amplifies the incoming signal(and any
concurrent noise) over the network.
ii) Signal repeater :collects inbound packets and then
transmits them as if they were starting from their source
station.
Bridge
a) A device that establishes an intelligent connection between two
local networks with same standard but with different types of
cables.
b) Smart enough to know which computers are on which side of
the bridge
Router
a) A Router is a network device that is used to separate different segments in a
network to improve performance and reliability. A router works like a bridge but
can handle different protocols.
b) Differs from a bridge in a way that former uses logical addresses and the latter
uses physical addresses.
Gateway
Gateway node often acts as a proxy server and a firewall.
A Gateway is a network device that connects dissimilar net-works. It establishes
an intelligent connection between a local network and external networks with completely
differently structures.

WiFi Card
An internal or external Local Area Network adapter with a built-in wireless radio
and antenna.
Allows you to setup your work station or home office with considering the
proximity or availability of hard line network access.
13.11 LAN Design
Network design problem consists of the following three general element :
Enviornment given- Location of hosts, servers, terminals, the projected traffics.
Performance constraints-Network reliability, traffic, throughput, and host/client computer
speeds.
Internetworking variables- Network topologies, and capacities.

>>>NOTE:- The 80-20 rule: in a properly designed small to medium-sized network
environment, 80 percent of the traffic on a given network segment is local (destined for a
target in the same work-group), and not more than 20 percent of the network traffic need
to move across a backbone (the spine that connects various segments or subnetworks)
LAN Design Faqs
1) When/ why hubs and switches are used?
Answer) Whenever one needs to form a network among multiples nodes network devices, a device
like hub or switch is needed.
2) How does a hub works?
Answer) Hub is a multiport repeater, which broadcasts all information to all other ports. It causes
unnecessary network traffic. Hence it is called non-intelligent or dump device. [You can think of a
hub as a dump postman who does not know the house number, so he goes to every house and asks
the owner if the letter is his?]
3) Why repeaters?
Answer) When a signal travels along a cable, the tends to lose strength. A repeater is a device that
boots or regenerates a networks signal as it passes through and rebroadcasts it.
4) When are repeaters required?

Answer) Repeaters are mainly used for extending the range when the total length of network cable
exceeds the standards set, for example, in fast Ethernet, this is 100 metres. And if you have to
connect two computers that are more than 100 metres apart you need repeater.
These days, there are wireless repeaters also available. Wireless repeaters extend the range of
wireless signals.
5) How does switch works?
Answer) A switch has same as that of a hubs- i.e., to connect multiple computers. But a switch is
a smart device (not dump as hub) .It can identify the intended destination ( use mail address for
this ) and send the information only to the target computer(s). [Here, a switch is like a smart
postman who knows the addresses of the recipients and goes only to the house where the letter
is to be delivered. ]
A switch does not share the media /bandwidth among all its connected computers.
No unnecessary traffic generated
Can send and receive information at the same time.
Switches, however, expensive than hubs.
HUB SWITCH
Repeats the incoming traffic to all
connections.
Sends traffic only to appropriate
connections.
Offer single lane connection, hence either
send or receive at a time.
Establishes two-lane communication,
facilitating send and receives at the same
time.
Shares bandwidth among its connection Does not share bandwidth, each connection
gets full bandwidth.
Inexpensive choice. Expansive than hubs.s