Summary

22 IT Essentials: PC Harware and Software Companion GuideAfter completing this section, you will meet these objectives:■■Identify the names, purposes, and characteristics of network devices.Identify the names, purposes, and characteristics of common network cables.Identify the Names, Purposes, and Characteristics ofNetwork DevicesTo make data transmission more extensible and efficient than a simple peer-to-peer network,network designers use specialized network devices such as hubs, switches, routers,and wireless access points to send data between devices.HubsHubs, shown in Figure 8-11, are devices that extend a network’s range by receiving data onone port and then regenerating the data and sending it out to all other ports. This processmeans that all traffic from a device connected to the hub is sent to all the other devices connectedto the hub every time the hub transmits data. This causes a large amount of networktraffic. Hubs are also called concentrators because they serve as a central connection pointfor a LAN. They are also sometimes called multiport repeaters because they send data outall the ports.Figure 8-11HubBridges and SwitchesFiles are broken into small pieces of data, called packets, before they are transmitted over anetwork. This process allows for error checking and easier retransmission if the packet is