OCU C)NP D Week 01 Lesson 02 Discussion
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Good afternoon!
In Networking, several key devices play essential roles ensuring communication between systems. A router is one of the most important, as it connects different networks together such as a home or a business network to the internet. Routers determine the best path for data packets and often provide additional services like assigning IP addresses through DHCP and basic security through firewall functions. A switch operates mainly within a local aera network which is LAN. It forwards data directly to the intended device using MAC addresses, which reduces unnecessary network traffic and increase efficiency. Switches are crucial for allowing multiple devices, such as computers and printers, to communicate seamlessly on the same network. An access point extends the wired network into a wireless environment, allowing mobile devices like phones and laptops to connect without cables. Access points also improve coverage in larger areas, ensuring reliable communication across the network.-
Hi, Carlos! Nice work describing routers, switches, and access points. They each have an important role in what they do, and an organization’s network could include all of these devices together so understanding each one and what it covers is necessary. Like you mentioned, an organization could use both a switch to let its devices communicate across the network, while also using a router to control the paths of data packets and IP assignment.
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Network devices have different functions and knowing when to use each one is vital. Three examples of network devices are repeaters, gateways, and bridges. Repeaters (or extenders) are helpful for extending a signal over a greater distance because they take the signal that they receive and retransmit that signal at a higher level. If a company is quite large and needs their network to spread throughout the company buildings, then a repeater could be used to ensure that areas in the company can connect to the same network. A gateway is found where communication paths meet so that the gateway can send the data across different networks. As a result, gateways are used for interactions between different networks and for control of the data that goes across those networks (GeeksforGeeks, 2025a). Bridges connect several LANs to one main LAN by creating different segments (GeeksforGeeks, 2025b). By creating separate collision domains, bridges increase bandwidth to nodes and reduce collisions.
References
GeeksforGeeks. (2025, July 23). What are Gateways in Computer Network? https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/computer-networks/what-are-gateways-in-computer-network/
GeeksforGeeks. (2025, July 23). What is Bridge in Computer Network – Types, Uses, Functions & Differences. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/computer-networks/what-is-bridge-in-computer-network-types-uses-functions-differences/-
Hello Isabelle,
Great explanation of repeaters, gateways and bridges. You highlighted their specific roles well which are the signal extensions, inter network communication and LAN segmentation. Id also add that bridges and switches help reduce network congestion by dividing traffic. Understanding when to deploy each ensures efficiency, scalability and reliability in modern network infrastructures across different environments.
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