Network+ 1.2

Router

Take data from one IPsubnet to another (Layer 2)

Switch (Layer 2)

a box with lots of network ports that delivers data to the next device on the local network

Firewall

sits between networks (or in front of a device) and checks every piece of traffic against a list of rules.

NGFW

Looks inside traffic and knows which app it is (Netflix vs. Zoom), can block malware, often includes an IPS (Intrusion Prevention System)

Load Balancer

sits in front of a group of servers and spreads incoming traffic across them. handles the encryption and decryption of HTTPS, so the servers don’t have to.

Proxies

Instead of your computer talking directly to a server, it talks to the middle man, and then it talks to the server for you.

Network Attached Storage

A NAS is basically a box full of hard drives that plugs into your network. Every device on the network can reach it, like a shared closet.

Storage Area Network

A SAN is a whole separate, high-speed network built just for storage, used mostly by big companies and data centers.

Access Point

Wifi signal device (may not be in the same building)

Wireless LAN Controller

a central device that manages lots of Wi-Fi access points at once.