Karnali Province2079 BSQuestion 1 of 3

What are the functions of the following networking devices: Switch, Router, Access Point, Firewall and Modem?

5 marks

Model answer

Switch (L2) — Connects PCs in one LAN, forwards by MAC to target port only. E.g. 24-port office switch for fast, collision-free sharing.
Router (L3) — Links LANs by IP and connects to internet (gateway 192.168.1.1); chooses best path.
Access Point — Gives Wi-Fi to mobiles/laptops; bridges wireless to wired LAN. Home router has built-in AP.
Firewall — Filters traffic by rules, blocking unauthorized access while allowing mail/web.
Modem — Modulates/demodulates signals between ISP line (fibre/ADSL) and digital router. Chain: ISP → Modem → Router/Firewall → Switch/AP → PCs.