Hub

• Hub is a networking device which is used to connect multiple devices like computers, servers etc to each other and make them work as a single network.





• It receives signal from the source, amplifies it and send it to multiple destinations or computers.
• It has multiple input/output port, can be 4 to 24 port.
• Giving input in one port it will give output in every port except the original incoming port.
• Hubs work in physical layer of OSI model.

Types

Active hub

• Active hub is a hub which can amplify or regenerate the information signal.
• It also amplifies the incoming signal as well as forward it to multiple devices.
• This hub is also known as multi port repeater.
• It can upgrade the properties of incoming signal before sending them to destination.

Passive hub

• Passive hub works like a simple bridge.
• It is used for just creating a connection between various devices.
• It does not have the ability to amplify or regenerate any incoming signal.
• It receives signal and then forward it to multiple devices.
• Passive hub used to connect computer in a network broadcast.

Intelligent hub

• It can perform tasks of both active and passive.
• Also it can perform some other tasks like bridging and routing.
• It increases the speed and effectiveness of total network thus makes the performance of whole network fast and efficient.

Applications

• Hubs are used to create small home networks.
• Hubs are used for monitoring the networks.
• Hubs are used in organizations and computer labs for connectivity.
• It makes one device or peripheral available throughout the whole network.

Advantages

• It is cheaper than other.
• It can connect different media types.
• Hubs are easy to use.

Disadvantages

• It extend the collision domain.
• It cannot filter, passes packets to the all connected device.
• As the number of devices increases connected to the hub the performance decreases.