CompTIA Network+ Study Guide

Chapter 2. Networking Appliances

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In this chapter, you will learn how to:

• Describe connectivity features of networking appliances

• Explain the optimization that network appliances bring to networks

• Describe essential security features network appliances make possible

Obj. 1.2 – Compare and contrast networking appliances, applications, and functions

Network appliances (and appliance functions) connect networks and devices, optimize the flow of data within and between networks, and provide essential security as well. The CompTIA Network+ objectives use the term “network appliance” to refer to, essentially, devices that do stuff on a network that aren’t clients or servers. That’s a broad definition and one that will spark arguments among networking enthusiasts, but good enough to introduce all these concepts.

This chapter focuses on three aspects of network appliances: connecting devices and networks, optimizing network traffic, and securing networks. In every case, the chapter introduces devices that later chapters embellish, sometimes with great ...