Network hardware isn't as clearly defined as some other types of computer hardware. For example, many home routers will often act as a combination router, switch, and firewall.

As a result, most network designers today view the physical-layer fiber-optic cabling to be of equal, or even greater, importance as the active components of their network. Active network hardware ...

6 Required Components of a LAN. A Local Area Networks connects computers together to exchange data. ... the drivers that help your computers talk to the networking hardware, ...