Network equipment is used to combine, split, switch, boost, or direct packets of information along a computer or telecommunications network. This product area includes hubs, switches, routers, bridges, gateways, multiplexers, transceivers and firewalls. In addition to device type, network equipment is defined by protocol (e.g., Ethernet) and port or interface type (e.g., T1). These concepts are described below.

How Network Equipment Works

Networking equipment interconnects devices so that data can be shared between them. The layout or topology of these connected devices describes the network's design or structure. Common topologies for computer networks include bus, ring, star, tree, and mesh. Hybrid topologies are also used.

In wireless networks, devices communicate via radio waves and do not require physical connections. In wired networks, cables are used. These cables are equipped with connectors for a specific port or interface type. For example, attachment unit interface (AUI) cables are equipped with 15-pin connectors that mate with a 15-pin receptacle on network transceivers.

Computer networks handle data according to protocols that are fundamental mechanisms for network communications. Network protocols specify the software attributes of data communications, including the structure of packets and the information contained therein. Depending upon the type of network, packets may be called blocks, cells, frames or segments. Network protocols may also prescribe some or all of the operational characteristics of the network hardware on which they run.

This diagram depicts a network with various types of equipment.

Image credit: City Infrastructure

Types of Network Equipment

The Engineering 360 SpecSearch database allows industrial buyers to search for and select the following types of network equipment.

• Hubs provide a central location for attaching wires to workstations. There are two types: passive and active.
• Switches connect devices to host computers and allow large numbers of these devices to share a limited number of ports.
• Routers are protocol-dependent devices that connect sub-networks or divide a very large network into smaller sub-networks.
• Repeaters use regeneration and retiming to ensure that signals are transmitted clearly through all network segments.
• Bridges are used to interconnect local or remote networks. They centralize network administration.
• Gateways can interconnect networks with different, incompatible communications protocols.
• Multiplexers combine multiple signal inputs into one output.
• Transceivers connect nodes and send and receive signals. They are sometimes called medium access units (MAU).
• Firewalls safeguard a network against unauthorized access.

Other network devices such as wireless access points (WAP) and modular platforms are also available.

Product and Performance Specifications

Network equipment may be designed for local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN), or wide area networks (WAN).

Image Credit: Comandtec

Processor type, speed, and computer memory are other important product parameters. Form factors include chips, boards or cards, and stand-alone or enclosed modules. Performance specifications include data rate and operating temperature, the number of users and concurrent connections that devices can support, and the total number of media access control (MAC) addressed that can be stored.

Features and Applications

When selecting network equipment, buyers may need to consider whether a device is power over Ethernet (PoE) ready, or if it supports voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP). Devices with full duplex capabilities can transmit data simultaneously in both directions, and may be stackable or rack-mountable. Product features such as alarms and LED indicators provide audible and visual notifications to network administrators.

Network equipment may be designed or suitable for particular applications. For example, hardened products are often used in telecommunications applications. Their casings provide protection from weather-related conditions and can act as a heat sink, directing high temperatures away from sensitive components.

References

TechiWarehouse - Basic Networking Tutorial

Image credits:

City Infrastructure | Comandtec