Elements of a computer network :
Internet :
Communication beyond Multiple Networks all over the world.
Ex : Mobile Internet, Internet Providers Broadband , Above Network is internet
Intranet :
Communicating with your local area network with its resources.
Ex : LAN, LAN Printing Services
–> Above the switch 1 or switch 2 area without router is Intranet or LAN
Network Switch :
A network switch (also called switching hub, bridging hub, and, by the IEEE, MAC bridge) is networking hardware that connects devices on a computer network by using packet switching to receive and forward data to the destination device.
A hub or Switch : Device that connects all the nodes of a network together. Every hardwired device in the network uses a network adapter, or NIC, to connect directly to a port on the hub or switch through a single cable.
Router :
A router is a networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks. Routers perform the traffic directing functions on the Internet.
- A router is a network device that connects multiple network segments into one network.
- Connects multiple switches and their respective networks to form a larger network (that is, it acts as a switch between networks).
- Can also filter the data that flows through it, which enables data to be routed differently, depending on need.
The diagram below shows two switched networks (which are also called subnets)—Department A and Department B—that are interconnected through a router.
| Hub | Switch | Router |
| A Hub is a multiport repeater in which a signal introduced at the input of any port appears at the output of the all available ports. | A Switch is a tele-communication device which receives a message from any device connected to it and then transmits the message only to the device for which the message is intended. | A router reads the header of incoming packet and forward it to the port for which it is intended there by determines the route. It can also perform filtering and encapsulation. |
| Hub is not an intelligent device that may include amplifier on repeater. | A Switch is an intelligent device as it passes on the message to the selective device by inspecting the address. | A route is more sophisticated and intelligent device as it can read IP address and direct the packets to another network with specified IP address. Moreover routers can built address tables that helps in routing decisions. |
| Works on basis of Broadcasting | Works on basis of MAC address. | works on basis of IP address. |
| Layer 1 – Physical layer | Layer 2 – Data link layer | Layer – 3 : Network Layer |
| Cheaper | Expensive | Much Expensive |
Clients/Users :
- A client is a computer hardware device that accesses the data or a service that is managed by another computer hardware device, which is called a server.
- The client connects to the server over a network.
- A client can also refer to software on the accessing device. For example, a web browser is a client for accessing content from a web server.
