1. Network adapters
Each computer must have a net work card installed inorder to
communicate in the network.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4Oc9eYF6XDyP0hI-Y6sgnb00cKe56cIOywdAotJ5WoooKGx8wKx1zmrEUE5GEoEyX-VHX2hsofZpp1gAxRYBb-R8HrDrX_9FXbmvdOVIOuQOjMoH3N-rO6rZkcQ5mSJRH0wEnXHRhEc/s400/nic.png)
- Network cards come according to speed and type of cable.
- Also we require separate network cards for wireless networking.
- It support speeds such as 10/100 mbps and 100/1000 mbps.
2. Repeaters
- These are a 2 port device used to extend a single connection.
- It can almost double the distance of the cable.
3. HUB.
- These are the central device used in physical STAR networks.
- It creates the interface through which we can connect multiple
- computers to the network.
- HUB come according to speed and number of ports.
- Also separate HUB are required for UTP cables and Fiberoptic cables.
4. Bridge
- Used for connecting two network segments together
- Also it can perform traffic filtering among the segments.
- It can remember the Physical addresses of computers in both segments and reduce collisions between these segments.
5. Switch
- It is the same as bridge as it can remember Physical address and perform traffic filtering between segments.
- Its main difference is that it can supprot multiple segment connection
- where as bridge can only support two net segments.
6. Router
![router](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbKXkw9O_xlU7JpSleEAjAxQs3AEw4TPpGYiiPTCXeB4xKoIiIO3OSdFIr6Sp5dUc0Hrz0lK4yKCBjswAyO3U1Qj_ho6sqF0bvmPwtJXkzu7cyDHwFZqgNke8csDzw3PZfoAd-1PGBLs/s400/router.jpg)
- These are used for interconnecting different networks with eachother.
- It can store logical address of networks and perform traffic filtering among those networks.
7. Brouter
- This is a special kind of device as it can function both as bridge and Router.