Network Adapter
A Network Adapter is a component of a computer’s internal hardware. It helps in building a connection between two computers. A Network Adapter can be used over a wired network or a wireless network. It connects directly to the Motherboard.
A Network Adapter for wired networks uses twisted and untwisted pair cables for network connectivity. On the other hand, a wireless adapter can connect with the network through a built-in feature or externally connected antenna. Both Network Adapters are popular in supporting LAN protocols.
There are two types of Network adapters: Wired Network Adapter and Wireless Network Adapter
Wired Network Adapter
A Wired Network Adapter is a device that provides an ethernet cable, through which you can connect your computer or laptop to a local area network (LAN). It can install as an internal or an external device. The Wired Network Adapter is quite different from the Wireless Network Adapter. It works speedy and this is the biggest advantage of a wired network adapter. Data can travel at speeds of up to 100 Gigabits per second over a wired network adapter. This is also very important that what type of cable you are using for a Wired Network Adapter. Optical fibre will be an appropriate cable for this. The fastest network is the basic need of companies because they have to exchange a large amount of data over a network on daily basis. High security is another advantage of a Wired Network Adapter. The Wired Network Adapter doesn’t broadcast data transmission over the LAN.
Wireless Network Adapter
Many people use the internet on a daily basis and they feel more comfortable if they have a wireless network connection without any physical network connection. So they have to use a Wireless Network Adapter to establish a wireless internet connection. A Wireless Network Adapter works efficiently and it connects via expansion card devices such as memory cards or PC cards.314 It can also be connected via a USB port on your computer or via an internal adapter that is already found in a computer.
Network Switch
A Network Switch is a device that connects different devices in a small business network.
In building a small office network, the most essential equipment you will need is a Network Switch. A Network Switch performs different functions within a network. It is quite different from a router in its performance but quite similar in its appearance.
A Network Switch shares the resources by connecting all the devices, including printers, computers and servers in a small business network. With the help of a Network Switch, all the connected devices can share information and talk to each other easily and it never bothers where these devices are, in a building or on campus.
Building a small business network is not possible without a Network Switch because a Network Switch ties the devices together. There are two main categories of Network Switches: Modular Switches, Fixed Configuration Switches.
Modular Switches
Modular Switches are expandable. They give us the flexibility according to the change of the requirements of a Network. Expansion modules are application-specific and are very helpful for plugging in firewalls, wireless connectivity or network analysis. They allow for additional interfaces such as power supplies or cooling fans. This type of switch provides a facility of higher flexibility but at a high cost because all these switches work by using electricity.
Fixed Configuration Switches
Fixed Configuration Switches are not expandable. They are considered typically old. These switches have a fixed number of ports as their name exposes which make them cheap and not expensive. 246 These switches cannot be modified. There are three main types of Fixed Configuration Switches such as:
Unmanaged Switch
An unmanaged switch is used to provide basic connectivity and there no configuration is needed. These switches have limited capabilities and cannot be managed properly as their name exposes.
Managed Switches
Managed Switches are the most expensive switches. Managed Switches provide the best application experience and are demanded in many organizations. These switches provide the best control and management of a network. These also have the greatest scalability and manage the network properly as their name exposes.
Smart Switches
Smart switches have some management and quality of service. They can be an alternative to Modular Switches.
