Networking Devices and Connectors


Hubs

Hubs connect devices in a network by broadcasting data to all connected devices. They operate at the physical layer (Layer 1) of the OSI model and do not filter or manage traffic.

Switches

Switches connect devices in a network and use MAC addresses to forward data only to the intended recipient.

Modem

Modems (modulator-demodulator) convert digital data from a computer into analog signals for transmission over telephone lines and vice versa.

More modern modems are used in cable and fibre-optic internet connections.

Access Point (AP)

Access Points allow wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi or related standards.

Firewalls

Intrusion Detection System (IDS)

  • Analyses a network with its traffic
  • Regularly updates its signatures from a vendor
  • Cannot detect a zero day

Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

  • Like IDS, analyses packets and sends the findings to an administrator dashboard

See also

References