Computer Networking

TASK 3

HUB

A hub, also called a network hub, is a common connection point for devices in a network. Hubs are devices commonly used to connect segments of a LAN. The hub contains multiple ports. When a packet arrives at one port, it is copied to the other ports so that all segments of the LAN can see all packets.

In general, a hub refers to a hardware device that enables multiple devices or connections to be connected to a computer. An example is a USB hub, which allows multiple USB devices to be connected to one computer, even though that computer may only have a few USB connections.

Usually, hubs are considered of three types namely passive, active and intelligent hubs.

ROUTER

A router is a networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks. Routers perform the traffic directing functions on the Internet. Data sent through the internet, such as a web page or email, is in the form of data packets. 

A router connects devices within a network by forwarding data packets between them. This data can be sent between devices, or from devices to the internet. The router does this by assigning a local IP address to each of the devices on the network.

Erica set up her computer router so that she could work from home. ... An example of a router is a mail carrier. An example of a router is a woodworking tool. An example of a router is computer hardware that transfers Internet messages to a laptop in another room; a wireless router.

SWITCH

A network switch is networking hardware that connects devices on a computer network by using packet switching to receive, and forward data to the destination device. A network switch is a multiport network bridge that uses media access control addresses to forward data at the data link layer of the OSI model.

Network switches create a network while routers connect networks. In other words, network switches allow different devices on a network to communicate, but routers allow different networks to communicate. In a nutshell, a network switch is typically a Layer-2 device of the OSI model while a router is a Layer-3 device.

A layer 2 network device is a multiport device that uses hardware addresses, MAC address, to process and forward data at the data link layer (layer 2). A switch operating as a network bridge may interconnect devices in a home or office. The bridge learns the MAC address of each connected device.