About this interactive
The lesson's rack holds the intermediary devices that connect end devices together, in one rack or spread over miles:
- **Switch:** interconnects many devices on the same network.
- **Router:** connects separate networks, across a building or between sites.
- **Firewall:** helps protect the network.
- **Wireless access point:** gives devices access to the network without a cable.
Ask what the job is: connect devices to each other, connect networks, protect, or connect without cables.
What you'll learn
- Choose the intermediary device a business network needs for a job: a switch to interconnect devices on one network, a router to join separate networks, a firewall to protect the network, or a wireless access point to let devices join without cables
Aligned to
CompTIA Network+
1.2
Compare and contrast networking appliances, applications, and functions.
Cisco CCNA
1.1
Explain the role and function of network components
Key terms
- Intermediary Device
- A network node, such as a switch or router, that interconnects end devices and facilitates communication between them rather than serving as a source or destination of traffic.
- Switch
- A network device that connects devices within a LAN and forwards traffic based on MAC addresses.
- Router
- A network device that forwards data packets between networks based on IP addresses.
- Firewall
- A network security device that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing traffic based on predefined security rules.
- Wireless Access Point
WAP
- A device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi.
Topics
Intermediary Devices
Switch
Router
Firewall
Wireless Access Point
Interactive
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