A network is a combination of different components. the most essential components of a simple network (LAN) is as follow.

Servers, Nodes, Workstation, Network Operating System (NOS), LAN Software,  LAN Cable, Network Interface Card.

Server : Servers are faster, More Volatile Memory (RAM) and Secondary Memory (HDD or SSD) that run various software's store and process information and also provide a human interface for users to be  able to use the networked computers.It is a active mode so it respond client request.

  Nodes :  Nodes are the computers on the network are also called it as clients, which are provided to the users to carry out their tasks using the network. It is a passive mode.

Workstation : A node, which is more powerful, and can handle local information processing or graphics processing called a workstation. In workstation works only the person setting in front of it, where as all the people who site in front of nodes, access and it share its resources. A workstation usually has inexpensive, low memory hard disk is sufficient to carry local tasks. some workstations have no hard for nodes called disk less workstations such workstations called dumb terminals and they rely completely on the LAN for their access. Server supply operating system and applications to nodes.

Network Operating System(NOS) : The network requires some software to control all the information transfer activity on the network, like a traffic police control traffic. it handles these tasks. This network more complex.

LAN Software : On the network,each computer connect with each other called that area as workstation. In this workstations some computers design as Servers which connect to nodes with LAN cables (when Wired). In addition to this local disk operating system, each node requires networking software that enable the nodes to communicate with server. Example: Token ring, Ethernet.

LAN Cable: This is called medium which is a physical that travels information as signals form computer to computer (source to destination) Example: UTP(twisted & Untwisted), STP.

Network Interface Card (NIC): Each computer contains a network interface card. This card is used to connect the lan cable by using RJ45 pin (with out Bus topology). this card helps to communicate with each other when different vendors NICs. 

Router :  Router routes the packets by seeing the destination  IP address to route this packets it maintain routing table. It works on layer 3 i.e.' Network layer. It works in Wide Area Network (WAN). Router works on the base of IOS. It contains Serial interface, Auxiliary interface, BRI interface, etc.,. It is hardware base device.

 

Switch : Switch works on layer 2 i.e., Data link Layer it maintain mac table to forward the packet. Each port is collision domain. It is hardware base device. It maintains the same speed for every ports. Ports are where Ethernet cable to be connect With RJ45 pin. Layer 3 switches also be there which is used to do inter VLAN routing and also work as routers this switches are called as intelligent switches. It uses in LAN as well as WAN.

 

HUB : Hub works on Layer 1 it is also called as repeater. hub forward the packets to all ports present in the hub, like it broad cast the packet. It uses in LAN. It is inbuilt hardware device. It divides the speed as per the number of ports in active mode i.e., n/2.