9 Common network devices: What they are + what they do

Network devices are indispensable for keeping a business connected and efficient, handling everything from data traffic management to security enhancement.

Understanding the specific roles and functionalities of each type of network device allows businesses to optimize their network infrastructure for better performance and reliability.

What you’ll learn from this article:

• What are network devices?
• The 9 common types of network devices
• How Meter can assist your network with their own hardware

What are network devices?

Network devices are specialized hardware or software components used to interconnect computers, servers, and other devices within a network, enabling them to communicate and share data effectively.

These devices vary in function, from directing data traffic and connecting devices within a network to extending network reach and enhancing security. They also perform other critical tasks, including data routing, traffic management, network segmentation, and security enforcement.

Common types of network devices

Networking devices vary in purpose and functionality. The network instruments you choose will depend entirely on what is best for your business.

Some of the most common network devices include routers, switches, and modems.

1. Routers

Routers are essential for directing data traffic between different networks. A router works by examining data packets and determining the optimal path for them to reach their destination. Connecting multiple networks, such as linking a local network to the Internet, enables reliable data transmission.

Key functions of routers:

Data packet examination: Routers inspect data packets to understand their destination and determine the best route for forwarding them.

Routing tables: Routers maintain routing tables that determine the optimal paths for data packets based on the routing protocol used. These tables are updated as the network topology changes.

Network connection: Connecting different networks enables devices within a local network to communicate with external networks, such as the Internet.

Path selection: Based on the routing table, routers select the most proficient path for data packets, optimizing data flow and minimizing transmission delays.

In a corporate office, such as a financial firm, a router serves the following roles:

• Connecting internal and external networks: Routers bridge the internal office network with the external internet, allowing employees to access online resources and services.
• Managing traffic: The router resourcefully manages data traffic between the internal network and the Internet, ensuring that data packets are routed through the best possible path.

2. Switches

Switches are used to connect devices within a single network, such as computers, printers, and servers.

They use MAC addresses to forward data to the intended recipient device within the same network segment but can also use broadcasting for unknown addresses or certain protocols.

Selective forwarding reduces unnecessary data traffic, enhancing overall network performance and efficiency.

Key functions of switches:

Device connectivity: Switches connect various devices within the same network, enabling them to communicate with each other. Devices such as computers, printers, servers, and other network-enabled devices are included.

Data traffic management: Using MAC addresses, switches can identify and forward data packets specifically to the intended device. Reducing the likelihood of data collisions and minimizing network congestion are key benefits.

Improving network performance: Selective data forwarding helps optimize network performance by reducing unnecessary data traffic. As a result, data transfers across the network become faster and more reliable.

In a corporate office, such as a marketing agency, a network switch might be used as follows:

• Connecting workstations: The switch connects various employee workstations to the central network, allowing for expeditious data sharing and communication.
• Linking to servers: A switch links workstations to central servers, enabling employees to access shared resources and applications quickly and securely.
• Managing data flow: Selective forwarding of data packets by the switch helps manage data flow, preventing network congestion and enhancing overall performance.

3. Access Points (APs)

Access points (APs) create a wireless local area network (WLAN), allowing wireless devices to connect to the wired network, which extends the network's coverage.

Particularly useful in providing Wi-Fi connectivity, APs excel in areas where cabling is impractical or impossible.

APs function by receiving and transmitting data between wireless devices and the wired network, fostering continuous communication.

Key functions of access points:

Wireless connectivity: APs provide wireless devices with access to the wired network, enabling mobility and flexibility for users.

Data transmission: Handling the reception and transmission of data between wireless devices and the wired network, APs support seamless communication and data flow.

Network extension: APs extend the coverage of a wired network, allowing wireless devices to connect in areas beyond the reach of physical cables.

In a corporate setting, such as a large university campus, APs are deployed to enhance network connectivity:

• Strategic placement: APs are placed strategically throughout the office building to cover all areas, including conference rooms, break areas, and open office spaces.
• Mobility support: Employees can move around the building without losing their connection to the network, supporting activities such as accessing cloud-based applications, conducting video conferences, and collaborating online.
• Unified network experience: The deployment of APs helps maintain a unified network experience, where wireless devices can connect to the same network resources as wired devices, granting consistent access to data and applications.

4. Firewalls

Firewalls are security devices designed to monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined security rules. They can take the form of either physical devices or software applications.

Acting as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, such as the Internet, firewalls protect against unauthorized access and cyber threats.

Key functions of firewalls:

Traffic monitoring and filtering: Firewalls continuously monitor network traffic, filtering data packets based on security rules to allow or block specific types of traffic.

Access control: Setting rules for allowed and disallowed traffic, firewalls control access to network resources, preventing unauthorized users from accessing sensitive information.

Threat detection: Firewalls can detect and log suspicious activities, such as attempts to access restricted areas of the network, helping to identify and mitigate potential security threats.

In an enterprise scenario, such as a healthcare facility, a firewall might be deployed to:

• Block malicious sites: A firewall can prevent access to known malicious websites to protect users from phishing attacks and malware.
• Prevent data breaches: Monitoring outgoing traffic to detect and block unauthorized data exfiltration, firewalls protect sensitive company data from being leaked.
• Detect suspicious activity: Firewalls can identify unusual patterns of network traffic that may indicate a cyber attack or internal misuse, allowing for timely intervention and response.

5. Modems

Modems are devices that modulate and demodulate signals for data transmission over telephone lines, cable systems, or fiber-optic systems, converting digital data to analog and vice versa.

The modulation and demodulation process enables Internet connectivity over traditional telephone or cable networks.

Key functions of modems:

Signal conversion: Modems convert digital data from computers into analog signals suitable for transmission over telephone or cable lines and convert incoming analog signals back into digital data.

Data transmission: Enabling the transmission of data over long distances through existing infrastructure, modems provide Internet connectivity in homes and businesses.

In a home office environment, a modem may be used for:

• Connecting to the Internet: The modem connects the computer to the Internet, allowing for web browsing, email communication, and online collaboration.
• Utilizing existing infrastructure: Using existing telephone or cable lines, the modem can provide an efficient way to access the Internet without the need for additional infrastructure.

6. Network Interface Cards (NICs)

Network Interface Cards (NICs) are essential hardware components that connect computers to a network, facilitating communication with other networked devices.

Each NIC has a unique Media Access Control (MAC) address, which identifies the device on the network and aids in managing data traffic.

Key functions of a NIC:

Network connectivity: NICs provide the physical interface for network connections, allowing computers to connect to Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi networks.

Data transmission and reception: Handling the transmission and reception of data packets between the computer and the network, NICs provide the physical interface enabling computers to connect to Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi networks.

MAC address identification: Each NIC has a unique MAC address, which helps in identifying the device on the network and directing data packets to the correct destination.

In a collaborative workspace, NICs are instrumental for network functionality:

• Enabling device communication: NICs allow each computer to connect to the local network, promoting communication with other networked devices such as printers, file servers, and other workstations.
• Accessing shared resources: Connecting to the network allows computers equipped with NICs to access shared resources, enabling collaborative work and time-saving resource utilization.
• Supporting network management: The unique MAC address of each NIC aids network administrators in managing and securing the network, allowing for competent tracking and troubleshooting of devices.

7. Gateways

Gateways are network devices that connect different networks, translating data between various network protocols. Acting as a bridge, they enable communication between networks that use different communication protocols, such as linking a local network with the Internet.

Key functions of gateways:

• Protocol translation: Gateways translate data between different network protocols, allowing devices on one network to communicate with devices on another network.
• Network bridging: By acting as a bridge, gateways connect disparate networks, enabling seamless data flow and communication across various network segments.
• Data security and management: Gateways can also provide security features such as firewalls and proxy servers, managing data flow, and protecting the network from potential threats.

In a corporate setting, such as a multinational corporation, gateways are instrumental in various scenarios:

• Internal and external communication: A gateway might connect the company's internal network with an external partner's network. Such a setup allows for smooth data exchange, such as sharing files or accessing shared applications, even if the two networks use different communication protocols.
• Internet access: Within the corporate network, a gateway often serves as the point of access to the Internet. It manages data packets leaving and entering the network, translating internal network protocols to those used by the Internet.
• Cloud integration: Gateways can facilitate the integration of on-premises networks with cloud services. They handle the necessary protocol translations and manage secure data transfer between the local network and cloud environments.

8. Load Balancers

Load balancers distribute network or application traffic across multiple servers to maintain reliability and performance. Evenly distributing the load prevents any single server from becoming overwhelmed, enhancing the overall efficiency and uptime of the network.

Key functions of load balancers

• Traffic distribution: Load balancers distribute incoming traffic among multiple servers, making sure that each server handles a manageable amount of requests.
• Enhanced performance: Preventing any single server from becoming a bottleneck, load balancers improve the overall performance and responsiveness of applications and services.
• Failover support: Load balancers can detect server failures and redistribute traffic to healthy servers, maintaining service availability and reducing downtime.

In a data center environment, load balancers help with:

• Web traffic management: Load balancers distribute incoming web traffic across multiple servers, guaranteeing that no single server is overwhelmed.
• Scalability: As the demand for resources increases, load balancers expedite the addition of new servers to the network, distributing traffic to accommodate the growing load without disrupting service.
• Resource optimization: Balancing the load allows servers to operate more efficiently, leading to better utilization of resources and reduced latency for users.

9. Bridges

Bridges connect and filter traffic between two or more network segments, helping to reduce traffic and improve performance.

Operating at the data link layer of the OSI model, bridges use MAC addresses to forward data only to the necessary segment.

Key functions of bridges:

• Traffic segmentation: Bridges divide a large network into smaller segments, reducing the overall traffic load on each segment and improving performance.
• Filtering traffic: Using MAC addresses, bridges filter and forward data packets only to the appropriate segment, minimizing unnecessary traffic and enhancing network efficiency.
• Reducing broadcast storms: Segmenting the network helps bridges mitigate the risk of broadcast storms, which can occur when excessive broadcast traffic overwhelms the network.

In a large office environment, bridges are deployed to enhance network performance and manageability:

• Network segmentation: A bridge can segment the office network into smaller sections, such as separating departments or different floors. Segmenting the network helps reduce traffic congestion and enhances overall efficiency.
• Functional data forwarding: Forwarding data only to the relevant segment allows bridges to minimize unnecessary data transmissions, reducing the load on the network and improving response times.
• Enhancing network stability: With network segmentation, the impact of broadcast storms is confined to individual segments, preventing them from affecting the entire network and enhancing overall stability.

Next steps: Choose Meter as your NaaS solution

Understanding the various types of network devices and their functions is the first step in optimizing your network infrastructure.

Meter offers a range of network devices designed specifically for that in mind. We can support your network engineers and existing staff in any way that you need.

Our offerings include:

• Switches: At Meter, our network switches are designed to connect multiple devices within a LAN, encouraging efficient data traffic management. Our advanced switch platform offers features like digital twin capability, instilling flexibility and robust performance for enterprise networks​.
• Access points (APs): Our wireless access points extend your network reach with reliable Wi-Fi coverage. Both indoor and outdoor APs adjust dynamically to changing conditions, minimizing interference and optimizing performance.
• Security appliances: Meter’s security appliances integrate with our network operating system to manage network traffic and apply stringent security policies, protecting against unauthorized access and cyber threats.
• Network as a Service (NaaS): Our NaaS model delivers a fully managed network solution, including premium hardware, cloud-based software, and operational support, that simplifies network setup, scaling, and management, allowing enterprises to focus on their core operations while we handle the network complexities.

Contact Meter for additional information regarding our network setup and how your business can partner with us.