Ethernet Hub Types | Basics and types of Hubs
This page describes basics of ethernet hub and mention hub types. The page also covers various types of hubs viz. passive hub, active hub and intelligent hub.
Introduction :
A hub is a networking device which connects multiple ethernet devices based on twisted pair or
fiber optic technology. Hence hub makes these devices represent as a single network segment in a broad sense or in a internet.
Hubs works at layer 1 i.e. physical layer of OSI protocol stack.
It is basically form of multiport repeater.
In Hub based Ethernet network only one device can transmit at a time. Here each host is responsible for collision detection/retransmission of packet.
In simple terms, ethernet hub is a box with number of connectors to which PCs or nodes are attached. Like repeaters, Hubs regenerate signals bit by bit as they travel down the physical medium. Like repeaters, Hubs make signals to reach greater distances. Moreover Hub can share same signal to group of nodes. The connection points are also called ports.
The figure-1 depicts hub in a star configuration. However various other configurations are also supported such as ring, bus, tree based on how signal is passed from one node to the other nodes.
Ethernet Hub basics | Types of Hubs
Following paragraph mentions basics of ethernet hub with different types of hubs.
Passive Hub:
This type of hub does not amplify or boost the signal.
It does not manipulate or view the traffic that crosses it.
Passive hub does not require electrical power to work.
Active Hub: It amplifies the incoming signal before passing it to the other ports.
It requires AC power to do the task.
Intelligent Hub: They are also called as smart hubs.
It functions as active hub and also include diagnostic capabilities.
Intelligent hubs include microprocessor chip and are very useful in troubleshooting conditions of the network.
Hub is also called as concentrator because hubs serve as a central connection point for an Ethernet Local Area Network.
Ethernet hubs are available in different number of port sizes viz. 4 ports, 5 ports, 8 ports, 16 ports etc. Hence one can buy the ethernet hubs as per their connectivity requirements. The port can connection ethernet cables of various speed types viz. 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps depending upon support in the hubs.
Networking related links
• Circuit Switching vs Packet switching
• LAN vs WAN vs MAN
• What is an IP address
• What is MAC Address
• Basics of OSI and TCP-IP Layers
• What is Hub
• What is Switch
• What is Bridge
• What is Router
• What is Gateway
• Firewall basics
• TCP-IP Packet format
• ARP Protocol format
• Firewall basics
• Difference between OSI and TCPIP layers
• Difference between TCP UDP