Hardware Components of a Computer Network

A computer network typically consists of various hardware components that work together to facilitate communication and data sharing between devices. Some of the most common hardware components of a computer network include:

Network interface card (NIC):

A Network card is a hardware device that uses to connect computers together in Network. The network card is also known as a network adapter. Each computer must have a Network card in order to connect to the network. Most modern computers come with built-in Network cards. If you are using a wireless network you must have a wireless Network interface card to connect to the Network.

Switches :

A switch is an active device that connects two or more network segments together at same time in a network. Switches have become an increasingly important part of our networking today because nowadays every networks use the Star topology. In star topology a switch is use as the central device. The switch acts as a filtering device by associating the MAC address of the system connected to the switch with the port on the switch. Each switch contains a certain number of ports, typically 8, 16, 24 or 48. Also Switches can be connected to each other to build larger networks. But switch is an expensive device.

Router :

Routers are packet-forwarding devices just like switch. Routers allow transmission of data between network segments. Unlike switches, it transmits data packets based on physical node addresses. Router is the device that connects two different networks together. Router is a Network layer device, so it can work with the network packets at a higher level. So how do routers work? In the case of the IP protocol, an IP address is 32 bits long. Those 32 bits contain both the network ID and the host ID of a network device. IP distinguishes between network and host bits by using a subnet mask.

Modems :

Modems are used to connect networks to the internet by converting digital signals from a computer into analog signals that can be transmitted over a telephone line or cable.

Hubs :

Hubs are similar to switches, but they do not perform any filtering or forwarding of data packets.

Firewalls :

Firewalls are used to protect networks from unauthorized access by filtering incoming and outgoing network traffic.

Client computer :

A Client computer is a networked device that uses the resources of a Network. Client computers are typically located on users’ desks and usually run a desktop version of Operating system. Such as Windows 7, vista, Windows 10 or can be a Linux or any desktop version of OS.

Server computer :

Server is the device that serves to a network by running a Network Operating System (NOS) and maintaining and controlling the network functions. Server computers typically run a specialized network operating system such as Windows Server versions or some Linux server versions, along with special software to provide network services.  A single server can perform many tasks. Server computers are very expensive Because of their hardware capabilities.

Wireless Access Points :

These devices enable devices to connect to the network wirelessly using Wi-Fi.

Network-attached storage (NAS) :

This is a type of storage device that is connected to the network and is accessible to other devices on the network.