ETHERNET HUB – THE MOST ESSENTIAL DEVICE FOR YOUR NETWORK:
An Ethernet hub is a small device that is mostly used in networking setups when we have to join together multiple computers. An Ethernet hub is quite a cheap product now readily available and widely used in all sorts of networking topologies. Since the Ethernet standard is the most common standard in networking there are various kinds of hubs available that fulfill different purposes. Especially in small businesses or home networking setups the Ethernet hub is the most common device used.
Each computer has a network interference card that is quite often called the NIC. In networking we take an Ethernet cable and plug one end of it into the computer’s NIC and the other end into the slot on the hub. The standard of Ethernet cable that is widely used in this Ethernet hub is the RJ–45 connector. In most cases when businesses expand or simply when needs expand most people often have to expand their networks. In this case you can connect an Ethernet hub with another hub or with a router or switch.
CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ETHERNET HUB:
An Ethernet hub can be distinguished on the basis of the speed or bandwidth that it is able to support. The higher your speed needs the more sophisticated should be the Ethernet hub you buy. The latest varieties available in the market are the 100Mbps Ethernet hub and the dual – speed ones. You can also distinguish one Ethernet hub from another based on the ports it has available. If you are setting up a small network in your home where you know the number of computers is not going to rise anytime soon than you can buy a 2 port hub. If you have three or 4 computers in the house you can buy a 3 port hub or 4 port hub.
You can also find a 5 port Ethernet hub or an 8 port hub in case you need one for your small business setup. It all depends on your needs from this Ethernet hub and based on that you should buy one keeping in mind future expansion possibilities. In case you have more extensive needs for your huge business than you can go for the industrial Ethernet hub. These are great in allowing you the flexibility in expanding your network as soon as you need to do as and with minimum possible cost.