The tip does not apply, but the daily term is well written:
Daily Term:
hub
A hub is a piece of equipment that provides a connection point for a group
of computers and peripherals, and it works on a low-level network protocol
layer. Just like a wheel on a bicycle, a hub is a central point from which
the spokes, or in this case, cables, fan out. Hubs are commonly used in LANs
(local-area networks), where two or more computers are sharing the same
devices, such as printers, Internet connection, scanners, and so on. The
cables for these devices are plugged into ports in the hub. Data is sent to
the hub, which then distributes it to other areas on the network. For
example, someone working on a computer can send a file to a printer, but
that request must be channeled through the hub before it reaches the
printer. Most hubs support the Ethernet standard, meaning the hub accepts an
Ethernet cable, which also plugs into an NIC (network interface card). There
are also non-Ethernet hubs, including Token Ring.
A hub can be passive, active, or intelligent. Passive hubs simply accept an
electric signal from an incoming packet and broadcast it to the rest of the
network. An active hub, sometimes called a repeater, amplifies the signal
before sending it to the rest of the network. Amplification guarantees that
the signal has enough power to make it throughout the network. An
intelligent hub, or manageable hub, is similar to an active hub, but it has
extra features. For instance, it provides bridging, routing, and switching
and supports remote management and virtual LANs.
The term "hub topology" is used to describe how larger networks are
arranged. A hub topology has a main area from which outgoing lines run, and
each line has connection ports for attaching devices. ISPs (Internet service
providers) use this format for providing access to their subscribers.
David Ferrin
http://www.jaws-users.com
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