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Networking hardware, also known as network equipment or computer networking devices, are electronic devices which are required for communication and interaction between devices on a computer network. Specifically, they mediate data transmission in a computer network.IEEE 802.3-2012 Clause 9.1 Units which are the last receiver or generate data are called
host A host is a person responsible for guests at an event or for providing hospitality during it. Host may also refer to: Places * Host, Pennsylvania, a village in Berks County People *Jim Host (born 1937), American businessman * Michel Host ...
s, end systems or data terminal equipment.


Range

Networking devices includes a broad range of equipment which can be classified as core network components which interconnect other network components, hybrid components which can be found in the core or border of a network and hardware or software components which typically sit on the connection point of different networks. The most common kind of networking hardware today is a copper-based Ethernet adapter which is a standard inclusion on most modern computer systems. Wireless networking has become increasingly popular, especially for portable and handheld devices. Other networking hardware used in computers includes
data center A data center (American English) or data centre (British English)See spelling differences. is a building, a dedicated space within a building, or a group of buildings used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunic ...
equipment (such as
file server In computing, a file server (or fileserver) is a computer attached to a network that provides a location for shared disk access, i.e. storage of computer files (such as text, image, sound, video) that can be accessed by the workstations that are ab ...
s, database servers and storage areas),
network service In computer networking, a network service is an application running at the network application layer and above, that provides data storage, manipulation, presentation, communication or other capability which is often implemented using a client� ...
s (such as
DNS The Domain Name System (DNS) is a hierarchical and distributed naming system for computers, services, and other resources in the Internet or other Internet Protocol (IP) networks. It associates various information with domain names assigned to ...
, DHCP, email, etc.) as well as devices which assure content delivery. Taking a wider view, mobile phones, tablet computers and devices associated with the
internet of things The Internet of things (IoT) describes physical objects (or groups of such objects) with sensors, processing ability, software and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the Internet or other comm ...
may also be considered networking hardware. As technology advances and IP-based networks are integrated into building infrastructure and household utilities, network hardware will become an ambiguous term owing to the vastly increasing number of network capable endpoints.


Specific devices

Network hardware can be classified by its location and role in the network.


Core

Core network components interconnect other network components. * Gateway: an interface providing a compatibility between networks by converting transmission speeds, protocols, codes, or security measures. * Router: a networking device that forwards
data packets In telecommunications and computer networking, a network packet is a formatted unit of Data (computing), data carried by a packet-switched network. A packet consists of control information and user data; the latter is also known as the ''Payload ...
between computer networks. Routers perform the "traffic directing" functions on the Internet. A data packet is typically forwarded from one router to another through the networks that constitute the internetwork until it reaches its destination node. It works on OSI layer 3. * Switch: a device that connects devices together on a computer network, by using packet switching to receive, process and forward data to the destination device. Unlike less advanced network hubs, a network switch forwards data only to one or multiple devices that need to receive it, rather than broadcasting the same data out of each of its ports. It works on OSI layer 2. * Bridge: a device that connects multiple network segments. It works on OSI layers 1 and 2. * Repeater: an electronic device that receives a signal and retransmits it at a higher level or higher power, or onto the other side of an obstruction, so that the signal can cover longer distances. * Repeater hub: for connecting multiple Ethernet devices together and making them act as a single network segment. It has multiple input/output (I/O) ports, in which a signal introduced at the input of any port appears at the output of every port except the original incoming. A hub works at the
physical layer In the seven-layer OSI model of computer networking, the physical layer or layer 1 is the first and lowest layer; The layer most closely associated with the physical connection between devices. This layer may be implemented by a PHY chip. The ...
(layer 1) of the OSI model. Repeater hubs also participate in collision detection, forwarding a
jam signal Carrier-sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) is a medium access control (MAC) method used most notably in early Ethernet technology for local area networking. It uses carrier-sensing to defer transmissions until no other statio ...
to all ports if it detects a collision. Hubs are now largely obsolete, having been replaced by network switches except in very old installations or specialized applications. * Wireless access point *
Structured cabling In telecommunications, structured cabling is building or campus cabling infrastructure that consists of a number of standardized smaller elements (hence structured) called subsystems. Structured cabling components include twisted pair and opti ...


Hybrid

Hybrid components can be found in the core or border of a network. * Multilayer switch: a switch that, in addition to switching on OSI layer 2, provides functionality at higher protocol layers. * Protocol converter: a hardware device that converts between two different types of
transmission Transmission may refer to: Medicine, science and technology * Power transmission ** Electric power transmission ** Propulsion transmission, technology allowing controlled application of power *** Automatic transmission *** Manual transmission *** ...
, for interoperation. *
Bridge router A bridge router or brouter is a network device that works as a bridge and as a router. The brouter routes packets for known protocols and simply forwards all other packets as a bridge would. Brouters operate at both the network layer for routa ...
(brouter): a device that works as a bridge and as a router. The brouter routes packets for known protocols and simply forwards all other packets as a bridge would.


Border

Hardware or software components which typically sit on the connection point of different networks (for example, between an internal network and an external network) include: * Proxy server: computer
network service In computer networking, a network service is an application running at the network application layer and above, that provides data storage, manipulation, presentation, communication or other capability which is often implemented using a client� ...
which allows clients to make indirect network connections to other network services. * Firewall: a piece of hardware or software put on the network to prevent some communications forbidden by the network policy. A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted, secure internal network and another outside network, such as the Internet, that is assumed to not be secure or trusted. * Network address translator (NAT): network service (provided as hardware or as software) that converts internal to external network addresses and vice versa. * Residential gateway: interface between a WAN connection to an internet service provider and the
home network A home network or home area network (HAN) is a type of computer network that facilitates communication among devices within the close vicinity of a home. Devices capable of participating in this network, for example, smart devices such as netwo ...
. * Terminal server: connects devices with a serial port to a local area network.


End stations

Other hardware devices used for establishing networks or dial-up connections include: * Network interface controller (NIC): a device connecting a computer to a wire-based computer network. * Wireless network interface controller: a device connecting the attached computer to a radio-based computer network. * Modem: device that modulates an analog "carrier" signal (such as sound) to encode digital information, and that also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. Used (for example) when a computer communicates with another computer over a telephone network. *
ISDN terminal adapter A terminal adapter or TA is a device that connects a terminal device – a computer, a mobile communications device, or other – to a communications network. ISDN In ISDN terminology, the ''terminal adapter'' connects a ''terminal'' (computer) ...
(TA): a specialized gateway for ISDN. * Line driver: a device to increase transmission distance by amplifying the signal; used in base-band networks only.


See also

*
Computer hardware Computer hardware includes the physical parts of a computer, such as the computer case, case, central processing unit (CPU), Random-access memory, random access memory (RAM), Computer monitor, monitor, Computer mouse, mouse, Computer keyboard, ...
* Data circuit-terminating equipment * List of networking hardware vendors * Network simulation * Node (networking) * Telecommunications equipment


References


External links


USF Explanation of network hardware
{{Electronic systems Computer networking