Networking devices

A multimedia network connects a large number of networking devices like computers, servers, terminals, printers, workstations, scanners, plotters, cameras etc. In the initial stage, in batch processing systems, users usually submit their tasks to a computer operator on punched tape or punched cards and subsequently operator perform these tasks. A terminal network uses a single mainframe computer that connects many user terminals. Here we use star topology. Every user terminal is connected to an RS-232 port. The I/O devices are known as console, terminal and workstation. Teletype (TTY), a mechanical device is an I/O device used as a console. CRT based terminals are also known as dumb terminals, smart terminals and intelligent terminals. User communicates to a remote computer in the terminal emulation mode. Terminals with advanced features are called workstations. The front-end processor (FEP) is a device which makes the host processor easy to transmit input and output data to the user terminals. A concentrator is a device which is often used to mix the traffic of a large number of terminals which are relatively low speed terminals and after combining concentrator allows passage towards FEP through an ultrahigh speed port.