Hardware Components
Physical
parts and devices used to connect computers in the network environment are
called hardware components.
The
hardware components of a network are:
Server
Workstation
Connectors
Cables
NIC
Hub
Repeater
Bridge
Switch
Router
Gateway
MODEM
Server
Server
is the main computer that provides services, data and other resources to other
computers in the network environment.
Different
types of servers are file server, print server, application server etc.
The differences between
Dedicated Server and Non-dedicated Server are:
Dedicated
Server
|
Non-dedicated
Server
|
A
server computer that controls and provides services hardware and software
resources to other computers on the network is called dedicated server.
|
A
computer on a network that allows a user to use it as a workstation and
provides facilities of sharing its resources to other computers on the
network is called non-dedicated server.
|
It
controls and provides resources to the client computers on the network but
does not allow a user to use it as a workstation.
|
It
controls and provides resources to the other computers on the network as well
as allows a user to use it as a workstation.
|
Workstation
Workstation is a computer, where the client works which requests services, data and other resources available on the server.
Workstation is a computer, where the client works which requests services, data and other resources available on the server.
The
differences between Server and Workstations are:
Server
|
Workstation
|
A
server is the main computer that provides services, data and other resource
to the other computers in the network environment.
|
A
workstation is a computer where the client works that requests services, data
and other resources available on the server.
|
The
server computer uses networking operating software like Novell Netware
Server, Windows NT Server, Linux, UNIX, etc.
|
The
client computer uses operating system like Windows 98, Windows XP, Red Hat Linux Workstation,etc.
|
Node
Each computer or device in a network is called node.
Each computer or device in a network is called node.
Cables
Cables are commonly used mediums for physical channel for transmitting data across network.
Cables are commonly used mediums for physical channel for transmitting data across network.
Examples
of cables are coaxial, twisted pair and fiber optic cable.
NIC
A
Network Interface Card (NIC) is a hardware device that acts as an interface
through which a computer is connected to a network.
The
function of NIC is to convert data into electronic signals and transfer them
through cables and vice-versa.
Connectors
Connectors acts as an interface between the NIC of the computer and the cable that passes data from one computer to another.
Connectors acts as an interface between the NIC of the computer and the cable that passes data from one computer to another.
Examples
of connectors are BNC used with coaxial cable, RJ 45 used with UTP cable, ST
used with fiber optic cable etc.
Hub
A
hub is a network device with multiple points or ports which acts as a central
point from where different computers and other devices are connected.
Hub
is mostly used in physical star topology.
Repeater
Repeater is a device that amplifies the incoming signals, creates a copy of it and transmits the signals on network.
Repeater is a device that amplifies the incoming signals, creates a copy of it and transmits the signals on network.
Bridge
A
bridge is a device that connects two or more similar types of network which
filters the data or inspects incoming signals and decides whether to forward
the signals or discard them.
Router
Router
is an intelligent device that connects two different networks which uses the
address for filtering and forwarding the data as well as it has an ability to
determine the best route for destination.
The differences between
bridge and router are:
Bridge
|
Router
|
A
bridge is a device that connects two or more similar types of network.
|
A
router is an intelligence device that connects two different networks.
|
It
inspects incoming signals and decides whether to forward the signals or
discard them.
|
It
filters and forwards information among different networks.
|
Switch
A
switch is a networking device that has multiple connecting ports which is often
used interchangeably with the bridge.
The differences between
hub and switch are:
Hub
|
Switch
|
A
hub is a device with multiple points or ports which acts as a central point
from where different computers and other devices are connected.
|
A
switch is a networking device that has multiple connecting ports which is
often used interchangeably with the bridge.
|
It
cannot determine source and destination device of the data. Hub broadcasts
the electric signals
|
It
can determine source and destination device of data.
|
Gateway
Gateway
is an interconnecting device that connects two dissimilar networks.
MODEM
MODEM
is a device which is used to transfer the data of one computer to another
computer using telephone lines.
The
role of MODEM in data transmission is that it transfers data from one computer
to another through telephone line. It also converts the digital signal into
analog and vice versa.
Modulation
The
process of translating digital signals of a computer to analog signals, which
are then transmitted across the standard telephone lines, is known as
modulation.
Demodulation
The
process of translating analog signals from a phone line and converts then into
digital signals for the computer is known as demodulation.
How does MODEM help in
transmission of data in computer network?
MODEM
helps in transmission of data in computer network by transferring the data of
one computer to another using a telephone line. It converts the discrete stream
of digital ON-OFF electrical pulses used by computers into the continuously
variable analog wave patterns over existing telephone lines and vice versa.
Mention the importance
of MODEM in computer network.
The
importance of MODEM in computer network is that it enables a computer to
transmit data and files over a telephone line. It can convert digital signals
into analog signals and vice-versa.
The software components of
computer network are:
Network operating system
Device drivers
Network protocol
Network Operating
System
The group of programs that manages
the resources on the network is called the network operating system.
Examples of network operating
system are Novell Netware, Microsoft Windows NT, Linux, Unix etc.
Protocols
Protocols are set of rules that the computers on the network must follow to communicate and to exchange data with each other.
Protocols are set of rules that the computers on the network must follow to communicate and to exchange data with each other.
Some examples of protocols are
TCP/IP, ARP, HTTP, FTP etc.
Device driver
Device driver is a program that
controls the functionality of the hardware device.
Example NIC driver controls the
functionality of NIC
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