Learn
Networking Hardware
The devices that carry, filter, and connect traffic, from cables and access points to routers and firewalls.
- Choose the right device for a job instead of treating every box as a router
- Compare hubs, switches, and routers by what they forward
- Recognize common cabling and wireless gear
Outside traffic is checked by policy, routed between networks, then switched to one local port. One product often combines the firewall and the router.
Devices
- Bridge
A device that joins segments and forwards frames by hardware address.
- Hub
A legacy device that repeats every signal out all ports.
- Load Balancer
A service that spreads client requests across multiple servers.
- Modem
A device that converts a provider's signal for local network use.
- Network Appliance
A purpose-built device dedicated to a network function.
- Repeater
A device that regenerates a signal to extend a link.
- Router
A device that forwards packets between different networks.
- Switch
A device that forwards local frames to a specific port.
Security devices
- Firewall
A policy enforcement point that permits or denies traffic.
Wireless
- Wireless Access Point
A device that connects wireless clients to a wired network.
Components
- Network Interface Card
The hardware that connects a host to a network link.
- Transceiver
A module that matches a device port to a copper or optical medium.
Cabling
- Ethernet Cable
Twisted-pair copper cabling commonly used for Ethernet links.
- Fiber-Optic Cable
Cabling that carries data as light through glass or plastic fiber.
- Patch Panel
A passive panel where permanent cables are terminated and patched.
- Power over Ethernet
A standard that delivers power and data on the same Ethernet cable.