Many kinds of computer network devices have now been developed to help and optimize network performance. Here are some of the devices you will often come across and use.
1. Server
A server serves as a place or medium for storing information and managing a computer network. A server has higher specifications than a client, because a server is built to serve client computers.
2. NIC (Network Interface Card)
A NIC is also called a LAN Card or Expansion Board, and it lets a computer connect to a network. Ethernet comes in four types: ethernet (10 Mbit/s), fast ethernet (100 Mbit/s), gigabit ethernet (1000 Mbit/s), and ten-gigabit ethernet (10,000 Mbit/s).
3. Network cable
A cable is the medium that connects one device to another. There are several types of cable for building a network, including coaxial, fiber optic, and twisted pair.
4. Hubs and switches
A switch is a computer network device that connects multiple computers. Physically, a switch looks the same as a hub, but logically it works like a bridge.
There are two types of switch: unmanaged switches, which are the cheapest, and managed switches, which are the most expensive.
5. Router
A router is a network device that connects a LAN to a WAN and manages the data traffic within it. It can determine the best path because it has a routing table that records all the addresses in the network.
6. Bridge
A bridge is a device that forwards traffic between network segments based on data link information. It can also divide a large network into several smaller ones.
7. Modem
A modem is a device that connects a computer to an internet service provider (ISP).
8. Repeater
A repeater is a device that amplifies and regenerates the incoming network signal. It tries to preserve the integrity of the network signal. Its drawback is that it cannot filter traffic within the network.
9. Wireless card
A wireless card is required if you want to connect to a wireless network. Most newer computers already support wireless cards, but you can also add one yourself.
