2. Hub

A hub is a hardware device that connects multiple computers together in a network and allows them to share data packets.

Each computer will be connected to a single 'port' on the hub. So if you purchase an '8 port hub', you will be able to connect up to eight computers together.

The picture above shows a 4 port hub built into an ADSL broadband router. Each yellow socket allows an ethernet network cable to be connected.

You can also 'daisy chain' hubs to allow even more computers to join the network. However there is a problem with doing this - see 'Switches' for more details.

Not all network topologies use a hub: