Network equipment, thanks to which the user gains access to the network, is divided into two types: active and passive. Active network equipment should primarily be understood as various kinds of switching devices, hubs, routers, etc. Passive network equipment includes: cables, sockets, connectors, etc.
Active network equipment
Active network equipment is designed to perform a variety of actions, one way or another related to data transmission. For example, consider routers. It is known that they transmit special packets of information to those computers that are connected to them, after which they get access to the Internet. In all types of active network equipment, packet data transmission is organized, where each packet is endowed with different information about the location, integrity of information and other data, which allows it to be delivered to its destination.
Active network equipment is able not only to perform the function of transmitting data packets, but also the function of creating transmission channels. This is due to the fact that there are a huge variety of data transfer options in the network, which directly depend on the load on the network and busy / free devices.
Network adapters connect the device to the network. Repeaters (amplifiers), as you might guess, receive and amplify the existing signal, while a person always has the possibility of branching the same signal. Converters (rarely used) convert from one data transfer technology to another. Basically, they are used where it is impossible to transfer data using a certain technology and transform it into another.
Switches, hubs and other similar equipment allow you to combine several computers into one network, that is, they form a so-called logical connection between devices. Routers, in turn, distribute data packets across computers, network segments.
As a result, active network equipment ensures the construction of a distributed information structure and enables the user to transmit and receive certain amounts of information over a long distance (that is, to use the Internet).
Passive network equipment
As for passive network equipment, it is not powered from the mains and transmits the signal without any amplification. It is divided into two conditional groups: equipment, which serves as a data transmission path, and equipment, which is a kind of route for cables. The first group mostly includes: sockets, cables, etc. The second group: brackets, cable ducts, clips and other equipment.
Thus, it turns out that it is the active network equipment that plays the main role in creating and receiving a signal.
