Gateways, Hubs, and Switches

Gateways

• Connect completely different network types
• Translate protocols across all OSI layers
• Handle differences in format, speed, and signals
• Higher processing overhead

Hubs

• Basic device for star network topology
• Broadcast data to all connected devices

Types:

• Cabinet hubs (fixed, low cost)
• Chassis hubs (modular, scalable, reliable)

Switches

• Enable direct communication between devices
• Support full-duplex communication
• Reduce collisions and improve performance
• Widely used in modern SCADA networks