Function and Purpose of Network Hardware Devices: Network Interface Card, Repeater/Hub, Bridge, Switch, Link-State, ISDN including BRI and PRI (Research Paper Sample)

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Function and Purpose of Network Hardware Devices
Network Interface Card
This is a  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_hardware"
computer hardware element that links a  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer"
computer network to a computer (Holosko & Dunlop 23). A network interface card therefore facilitates connection of network from the hub to the computer system.
Repeater/Hub
A hub acts as a connection point for local area networks that classically embrace the star topology. Hubs are the most frequently used networking devices. Nevertheless, the economical switch is speedily substituting the hub. Hubs organize cables and transmit data signals to different computers on the local area network (Holosko & Dunlop 24). Hubs are mostly useful in networks where twisted-pair cabling is installed. Network cables are used to connect devices and computers.
Bridge
This is an internetworking mechanism used to assist protect the bandwidth on the network. Bridge conserves network traffic through slicing the network up into minor sections. In essence, bridges outshine hubs and repeaters in terms of performance and functionality (Gavrilova 34). Bridges are capable to read MAC addresses. Through learning which MAC addresses are live on the network, the bridge is competent to manage traffic that is local to a particular section. This is in addition to keeping that section from spreading to other network sections that are being serviced by an additional bridge
Switch
A switch is used to control bandwidth on a large network. Switches permit users to have control over the use of the bandwidth on the network. That is been the case they are speedily becoming the most used internetworking mechanism (Gavrilova 37). A switch manages how data flows by the use of the MAC addresses that are positioned on each data packet. Switches are widely used to separate networks into Virtual LAN.
Router
Compared to bridges and switches, routers are smaller. Routers function on the Network coating, which is an elevated level in the OSI theoretical model. Routers use a mixture of hardware and software to route data to its destination from its source (Holosko & Dunlop 27). Routers have a sophisticated operating system that permits them to put together a variety of connection ports. Explanation of Routing Protocols
Distance-Vector
Towards finding the best path, distance-vector uses the distance to a remote network. Every time a packet passes into a router, it is referred to as hop.  The route with the smallest amount of hops is escalated to be the best.  The best examples of distance-vector comprise of RIP and IGRP.
Link-State
A good example of link-state is OSPF. Link state is classically called shortest path. Every router creates three tables. In that sense, one table tracks openly attached neighbors, the other determines the entire network topology, and the last table is used for routing (Gavrilova, 44). 
Hybrid
This denotes the mixture of both distance-vector and link-state. Hybrid commonly uses both the parts. A good example of hybrid is EIGRP.
Explanation of WAN ItemsFrame Relay
This is a uniform technology of wide area network that specifies the logical and physical link layers of digital telecommunications channels. Frame relay specifies such layers through the use of a  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packet_switching"
packet switching method. Initially, frame relay were made for transport across the infrastructure of  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Services_Digital_Network"
Integrated Services Digital Network (Holosko & Dunlop 29). At the moment, frame relay is used in the framework of numerous network interfaces. Frame Relay is one of the most widely used wide area network protocols. Its cheapness as compared to leased lines provides the logic behind its recognition. AS well, the tremendous ease of configuring user tools in a frame relay network provides another cause its reputation.
ISDN including BRI and PRI
Integrated Services Digital Network denotes communications set of standards for instantaneous transmission of digital voice, data, video, and other network services. This occurs over the customary circuits of the  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_switched_telephone_network"
public switched telephone network. The main element of ISDN is that it slots in data and speech on the same lines (Gavrilova 52). This adds aspects that were not obtainable during the  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_old_telephone_service"
classic telephone system. There are numerous types of access interfaces to ISDN described as  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_Rate_Interface"
Basic Rate Interface and  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_Rate_Interface"
Primary Rate Interface.
ISDN offers access to  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packet_switched_network"
packet switched networks. These networks are made to permit digital transmission of data and voice over normal  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twisted_pair"
telephone copper wires. This in turn results in potentially improved voice excellence than an analog phone can offer. ISDN also provides circuit-switched connections.
CSU/DSU
A  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_service_unit"
Channel Service Unit/ HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_service_unit"
Data Service Unit refers to a digital-interface mechanism useful in connecting a  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_Terminal_Equipment"
Data Terminal Equipment tool, for instance a  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Router_(computing)"
router. The CSU/DSU employs two special functions. A  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_service_unit"
Channel Service Unit is accountable for the link to the telecom network whereas a  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_service_unit"
Data Service Unit is in charge for managing the interface with the DTE (Gavrilova 55). A  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_service_unit"
Channel Service Unit/ HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_service_unit"
Data Service Unit is the correspondent of the modem for a complete local area network.
SONET
SONET usually broadcasts data at speeds between 155 megabits for each second and 2.5 gigabits for every second. In order to develop high-bandwidth data streams, SONET complexes mutually channels having bandwidth as low as 64 kilobits for each second into data frames sent at permanent intervals
VPN
A virtual private network refers to a private network that makes use of a public network to link remote users or sites jointly. A virtual private network uses connections all the way through the internet from the business private network to the distant site or worker (Gavrilova 59). Through the use a virtual private network, businesses guarantee safety measures. In that sense, anyone interrupting the encrypted information cannot read it clearly.
Explanation of WLAN Items 
Reflection
In wireless local area network, reflection refers to the way signals are transferred from one system to the other through the process of reflection (Holosko & Dunlop 32).
Diffraction Diffraction implies that the signal in the wireless local area network moves over the wire, but does not become weak, like the case of degradation.
Scattering this denotes the manner in which signals are allocated over wires in the networking system.
Signal Degradation
This implies that as the signal moves over the wire, it becomes weak. Also the signal for the individual bits spreads out until they go beyond the adjacent bits.
Characteristics, Purposes and Requirements of a Network Operating System
A networking operating system refers to the  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software"
software that r...