Network Security, Firewalls, and VPNs, 3rd Edition

Types of Network Devices

Computers and servers, including blade servers and special-purpose computers, are typically found on networks, but there are many other devices used for efficiency, segregation, or security.

A hub is a device that consolidates or collects the wires and connections of other computers and devices. Often, a server supports more than a few computers, which would require each computer to connect to the server individually. Most servers do not come equipped with enough individual ports to accommodate this type of connection. A hub simply collects the individual physical wires and provides a single connection to the server (FIGURE 3-1), limiting the physical wiring and streamlining the connections. A simple collection hub ...