| A hub is a device used to connect all of the | | | | signals and increase the maximum segment length. |
| computers on a star or ring network. A hub is | | | | This repeater only has two BNC connectors. The |
| nothing more than a box with a series of cable | | | | hubs used on UTP Ethernet networks are |
| connectors in it. Hubs are available four- and | | | | repeaters as well, but they can have many RJ45 |
| five-port devices designed for home and small | | | | ports instead of just two BNC connectors. |
| business networks to large rack-mounted units | | | | When data enters the hub, the hub amplifies the |
| with up to 24 ports or more. Installing a single hub | | | | signal and transmits it out through all of the other |
| is simply a matter of connecting it to a power | | | | ports. This enables a star network to have a |
| source and plugging in cables connected to the | | | | shared medium. The hub relays every packet |
| network interface adapters in your computers. | | | | transmitted by any computer on the network to |
| Hubs are associated with specific data-link layer | | | | all of the other computers, and also amplifies the |
| protocols. Ethernet hubs are common, because | | | | signals. The maximum segment length for a UTP |
| Ethernet is a popular data-link layer protocol. | | | | cable on an Ethernet network is 100 meters. A |
| Token Ring MAUs are hubs too, and other | | | | segment is defined as the distance between two |
| protocols, such as the Fiber Distributed Data | | | | communicating computers. Hubs function as a |
| Interface (FDDI) also use hubs. | | | | repeater, each of the cables connecting a |
| An Ethernet hub is called a multiport repeater. A | | | | computer to a hub port can be up to 100 meters |
| repeater is a device that amplifies a signal as it | | | | long, allowing a segment length of up to 200 |
| passes through it. If you have a thin Ethernet | | | | meters when one hub is inserted in the network. |
| network with a cable segment longer than the | | | | Visit Network+ to practice Network+ Exam . This |
| prescribed maximum, you can install a repeater at | | | | will help you earn your Network+ Certification on |
| some point in the segment to strengthen the | | | | first try. |