The First Hub, Switch, and Router: Networking Then vs. Now In today’s digital age, network devices like switches , hubs , and routers are so common that they’re practically invisible. But who made the first ones? And how fast were they compared to the lightning speeds we use today? Let’s explore the origin of these devices, their speeds, and a comparison to today’s standards. 🔌 First Ethernet Hub Brand : 3Com Corporation Product : 3Com EtherLink Hub (mid to late 1980s) Speed : 10 Mbps (Ethernet) Ports : 4 to 16 ports Connection Type : Coaxial or Twisted Pair (10BASE-T or 10BASE2) 🔹 Hubs were basic signal repeaters . Every packet was broadcast to all ports, causing network collisions and limiting speed in busy environments. 🔁 First Network Switch Brand : Kalpana Inc. Product : Kalpana EtherSwitch (launched in 1990) Speed : 10 Mbps per port (early Ethernet switching) Ports : 8–12 ports Key Feature : First to implement packet switching , reducing collisions and impr...
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