Some hybrid network devices

Some hybrid network devices:

Multilayer Switch: a switch which, in addition to switching on OSI layer 2, provides functionality at higher protocol layers.

Protocol Converter: a hardware device that converts between two different types of transmissions, such as asynchronous and synchronous transmissions.

Brouter: Combine router and bridge functionality and are therefore working on OSI layers 2 and 3.

Digital media receiver: Connects a computer network to a home theatreHardware or software components that typically sit on the connection point of different networks, e.g. between an internal network and an external network:

Proxy: computer network service which allows clients to make indirect network connections to other network services* Firewall: a piece of hardware or software put on the network to prevent some communications forbidden by the network policyOther hardware for establishing networks or dial-up connections:

Multiplexer: device that combines several electrical signals into a single signal.

Network Card: a piece of computer hardware to allow the attached computer to communicate by network.

Modem: device that modulates an analog "carrier" signal (such as sound), to encode digital information, and that also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information, as a computer communicating with another computer over the telephone network.

ISDN terminal adapter (TA): a specialized gateway for ISDN.

Line Driver: a device to increase transmission distance by amplifying the signal. Base-band networks only.