1.1 Computer Hardware
Modems
It is a hardware device that convert data into a format suitable for a transmission medium so that it can be transmitted from computer to computer.
Advantages:
It allows you and your devices to access the internet
and communicate with the outside world.
More useful in connecting LAN with the Internet.
Disadvantages:
It can allow viruses and hackers to enter your network.
No traffic maintenance is present.
Hub
It is a common connection point for devices in a network.
Advantages:
It can extend the total distance of the network.
It is cheaper
Disadvantages:
Does not operate in full duplex mode.
It cannot filter information.
Switches
A device for making and breaking the connection in an electric circuit.
Advantages:
They help in reducing workload on individual host PCs.
They increase the performance of the network.
Disadvantages:
They are more expensive compared to network bridges.
Broadcast traffic may be troublesome.
Bridges
It is a computer networking device that creates a single aggregate network from multiple communication networks or network segments.
Advantages:
Bridges can extend a network by acting as a repeater
Bridges reduce collisions
Disadvantages:
Bridges are more expensive than repeaters and hubs.
Do more work than others, which means it could be slow.
Routers
A networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks.
Advantages:
It can reduce network traffic by creating collision domains
and also by creating broadcast domains.
It can choose the best path across the internet
network using dynamic routing algorithms.
Disadvantages:
They are expensive compared to other network devices.
They operate based on routable network protocols.