Apa paper number 2
Discuss the differences between hubs, repeaters, bridges, and switches. Which of these devices is commonly found on an updated corporate network and why? Also, differentiate between the equipment found on a DTE and a DCE network.
Hubs, bridges, and repeaters function somewhat the same, they allow communication to be available through a network, the difference being that a repeater will only give the same signal over again, while a hub would break down a signal interpret it and send it out again cleaner. A bridge helps understand whether the data coming in should be forwarded or just discarded. The main difference between bridges and switches is the amount of ports it has. A switch can have many ports whereas bridges can only have 2. I think that a switches and repeaters can be found in a corporate network. They need a milti-port device that can be connected to filter and relay the signal and they would need repeaters to continue the signal over areas so that that the data is not lost. In a network, you need both a DTE and a DCE to understand things. A switch can be considered a DCE because it is sending the signal to a router, which can be a DTE, the router has to synchronize in order to receive the signal correctly and distribute to other devices.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-data-terminal-equipment.htm#slideshow

http://ckp.made-it.com/dtedce.html
Hub
In Ethernet, a device that receives an electrical signal in one port, interprets the bits, and regenerates a clean signal that it sends out all other ports of the hub. Typically, it also supplies several ports, which are oftentimes RJ-45 jacks.

Definition: Network repeaters regenerate incoming electrical, wireless or optical signals. With physical media like Ethernet or Wi-Fi, data transmissions can only span a limited distance before the quality of the signal degrades. Repeaters attempt to preserve signal integrity and extend the distance over which data can safely travel.
Actual network devices that serve as repeaters usually have some other name. Active hubs, for example, are repeaters. Active hubs are sometimes also called "multiport repeaters," but more commonly they are just "hubs." Other types of "passive hubs" are not repeaters. In Wi-Fi, access points function as repeaters only when operating in so-called "repeater mode."
Higher-level devices in the OSI model like switches and routers generally do not incorporate the functions of a repeater. All repeaters are technically OSI physical layer devices.

http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/internetworking/g/bldef_repeater.htm

bridge
A device that connects multiple network segments at the data link layer of the OSI model. Bridges were the predecessor to LAN switches.

switch
In Ethernet, a Layer 2 device that receives an electrical signal in one port, interprets the bits, and makes a filtering or forwarding decision about the frame. If it forwards, it sends a regenerated signal. Switches typically have many physical ports, oftentimes RJ-45 jacks, whereas bridges traditionally have two ports.