The concept of internetworking is not new as it dates back to the early days of computer networking. In the early years, simple networking devices such as repeaters and hubs were used to connect computers and transmit data over a network. However, with the growth of the internet and the need for faster and more efficient network connectivity, new networking devices such as routers and switches emerged. In this article, we will explore the evolution of internetworking devices from hubs to routers.
Hubs
In the early days of networking, hubs were the most commonly used devices to connect computers in a network. Hubs were simple devices that simply copied incoming data to all connected devices, regardless of whether the data was intended for that device or not. Hubs were cheap and easy to set up, but they had many drawbacks. One of the biggest drawbacks was that all devices on the network shared the same bandwidth, which resulted in slow network performance as more devices were added to the network.
Bridges
Bridges were introduced in the late 1980s and were used to connect multiple LANs together. Unlike hubs, bridges were capable of filtering network traffic and preventing unnecessary traffic from being transmitted across the network. Bridges used the MAC address of a device to determine whether to forward a packet, which made them more efficient than hubs. However, bridges were still limited in their capabilities and could not provide more advanced features like routing and switching.
Switches
Switches were introduced in the mid-1990s and quickly replaced hubs and bridges as the go-to device for LAN connectivity. Unlike hubs, switches were capable of creating a dedicated path between two devices, which increased network speed and eliminated network congestion. Switches used the MAC address of a device to determine where to forward packets, which made them more efficient than bridges. Switches were also more intelligent than hubs and could provide advanced networking features like VLANs and QoS.
Routers
Routers were introduced in the late 1980s and were used to connect multiple networks together. Routers were capable of forwarding data between networks based on IP addresses, which made them more intelligent than switches. Routers were also capable of routing and filtering network traffic, which made them more efficient than bridges. Routers were the first devices capable of providing advanced networking features like NAT, DHCP, and VPNs, which made them an essential component of modern-day networking.
Conclusion
The evolution of internetworking devices from hubs to routers has played a significant role in the development of computer networking. Hubs, bridges, and switches were simple devices that provided basic connectivity and speed, but were limited in their capabilities. Routers, on the other hand, were more intelligent and capable devices that provided advanced networking features like routing, filtering, and security. Today, routers are an essential component of modern-day networking and are used to connect multiple networks together, providing seamless and efficient connectivity.