Unit 2 of 3
Network Components and Planes
12 min
+100 points
Learning objectives
When you finish this unit, you will be able to:
- Describe the function of common networking components (such as switches, routers, firewalls, and load balancers).
- Interpret a basic network topology diagram with elements such as switches, routers, firewalls, load balancers, and port values.
- Describe the function of management, data, and control planes in a network device.
Network building blocks
Common components
- Switches: forward traffic within a LAN using MAC addresses.
- Routers: forward traffic between networks using IP routing.
- Firewalls: filter traffic based on security policies.
- Load balancers: distribute traffic across multiple servers.
Network planes
- Management plane: device administration and monitoring.
- Control plane: routing and forwarding decisions.
- Data plane: actual packet forwarding.
Topology diagrams
Read diagrams showing device roles, connections, and port values to understand traffic flow and architecture.
Exam focus: interpret topology diagrams and match components and planes to their functions.