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Network Hub and Switch
An Ethernet HUB or CONCENTRATOR is a device for connecting multiple twisted pair or fiber optic Ethernet devices together, making them act as a single segment. It works at the physical layer of the OSI model, repeating the signal received at one port out each of the other ports (but not the original one). The device is thus a form of multiport repeater. Ethernet Hubs are also responsible for forwarding a jam signal to all ports if it detects a collision. HUBs are often come with a BNC and/or AUI connector to allow connection to legacy 10BASE2 or 10BASE5 network segments. The availability of low-priced ethernet switches has largely rendered hubs obsolete but they are still seen in older installations and more specialist applications. |