NETWORK DEVICES
Computer Science ICT SSS3 FIRST Term
WEEK 2
NETWORK DEVICES
Content
NETWORK DEVICES
The network devices are the nodes of the network. They are devices that aid connection and communication. The common network devices are;
- The Hub
- The network interface card
- The switch
- The router
- The model
THE HUB
A hub is a device that connects the other entire device in a star network together. Every device in the network connects directly to the hub through a single cable.
The hub receives a message from a device and broadcasts it to all the other devices in the network and monitors it for collision to the destination.
Due to the fact that the hub broadcast messages, any message sent by the hub is received by all the devices because the hub is not able to identify the device that owns the message. This is the reason why, people say the hub is not intelligent.
MODEM
A modem is an acronym for Modulator / Demodulator; it is a device that can convert digital data to analog data and vice versa.
The most familiar example is a voice band modem that turns the digital data of a personal computer into modulated electrical signals in the voice frequency range of a telephone channel.
These signals can be transmitted over telephone lines and demodulated by another modem at the receiver side to recover the digital data.
SWITCHES
A switch is a device that channels incoming data from any of the network devices to the specific device that is the destination of the data.
Unlike the hub, the switch is intelligent because it does not broadcast but channels the data to a specific destination.
BRIDGE
A bridge is a device that connects two similar networks together. A bridge will connect/join two-ring networks together or two-star networks together. It could connect many similar networks together.
ROUTERS
A router is a network device that connects two or more dissimilar networks together. For example, a router can connect a ring network with a star network, a wireless network and a cable network, a LAN with a WAN and so on.
NETWORK INTERFACE CARD (NIC)
A network interface controller (also known as a network interface card, network adapter, LAN adapter and by similar terms) is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network.
BENEFITS OF COMPUTER NETWORKING
The benefits of computer networks are;
- Help to enhance connectivity
Networks connect and link an unlimited number of computers. This in turn connects the people using those computers. Individuals within a work group are connected through local area networks.
These connections ease communication between people using technologies like e-mail.
- Networking helps in sharing of hardware resources
Networks help in sharing different kinds of hardware devices. For example, a single printer can be shared by many staff in an office. This saves a lot of cost.
- Eases out the management of data
Networking provides the advantage of centralization of data from all the user systems to one system where it can be managed in an easy and better way.
- Internet
The Internet is a network that connects different people in different parts of the world. It allows people to communicate and share resources across the globe.
- Data Sharing
Sharing of data through the use of networks helps save a lot of time and energy. It also facilitates the use of applications like databases that are based on the ability of many individuals to access and share exactly the same data/ information.
- Networking Promoted games
Many internet games like WOW accounts are being played by players all over the world using common servers.
Reading Assignment: Reading Assignment:
Hiit @ School, Computer Studies for Senior Secondary Education. Pgs 122 - 126.
WEEK TWO (2) WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT
OBJECTIVE
- ____________is a device that connects the other entire device in a star network together.
(a) Switch (b) Router (c) Hub (d) Modem
2. ___________ switch is a device that channels incoming data from any of the network devices to the specific device that is the destination of the data.
(a) Switch (b) Router (c) Hub (d) Modem
3. ___________ device that can convert digital data to analog data and vice versa.
(a) Switch (b) Router (c) Hub (d) Modem
4. ___________ router is a network device that connects two or more dissimilar networks together.
(a) Switch (b) Router (c) Bridge (d) Hub
5. ___________ is a device that connects two similar networks together.
(a) Switch (b) Router (c) Bridge (d) Hub
THEORY
- State five (5) benefits of Computer Networks.
- What is a network interface card?