Electronic components are classed into either being Passive devices or Active devices. Active devices are different from passive devices.
Active devices are capable of changing their operational performance, may deliver power to the circuit, and can perform interesting mathematical functions. While a device that does not require a source of energy for its operation.
The network equipment is an integral part of the network, what it consists and than copes. It both the most elementary sockets and panels, and the most complicated switching routers. All influences on qualitative and trouble-free work of a uniform organism which the computer network is. The network equipment to share on two basic types: passive and active. Cables, sockets concern to the passive equipment, the punch-panel, concentrators - all that works only with electric signals, not analyzing data containing in them. Opposite the active network equipment analyzes a stream, the information passing through the device and depending on it makes a decision on a mode of the work. Distinctive feature of the active network equipment is presence of own memory and the processor device.