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hubs,routers & switches
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An idiots guide to the difference between hubs,routers & switches...cheers
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Hubs distribute the same data packets to all the connections. The connected equipment receives all the packets but only accepts those addressed to it. The speed of any hub connection is limited to its share of the total traffic. Obsolete.
A switch routes the data packets to the port connected to the equipment with the packet's destination address. The speed is limited only by the share of the traffic on the connections used by the data destined for the connected equipment.
A router is really a more sophisticated switch that can actively participate in negotiating multiple alternative paths to the destination. Computers with multiple networking cards can be used as routers.
A switch routes the data packets to the port connected to the equipment with the packet's destination address. The speed is limited only by the share of the traffic on the connections used by the data destined for the connected equipment.
A router is really a more sophisticated switch that can actively participate in negotiating multiple alternative paths to the destination. Computers with multiple networking cards can be used as routers.
On a basic level hubs and switches are the same thing.
On a small network hubs and switches can be used interchangably, the very slight performance difference between them is not noticed.
In my house I use both a router and a hub.
You use a router to "share" your internet connection between more than one PC or laptop.
My broadband connection comes into my house and goes into a router. The router can accept 4 wired connections from PCs (it is also wi fi enabled).
Next to the router is a PC and an ethernet wire goes from the PC into the router to allow it to use the internet.
I also have an office upstairs so another ethernet wire goes from the router through the floorboards into my office.
I want to use 2 computers in my office, so the ethernet wire from downstairs plugs into a hub in my office.
Then the two computers in my office both plug into the hub with an ethernet wire each.
So the two PCs in my office "share" the hub, and the hub and the PC downstrairs "share" the router.
Hopefully showing how they are used in a practical sense makes it clear.
On a small network hubs and switches can be used interchangably, the very slight performance difference between them is not noticed.
In my house I use both a router and a hub.
You use a router to "share" your internet connection between more than one PC or laptop.
My broadband connection comes into my house and goes into a router. The router can accept 4 wired connections from PCs (it is also wi fi enabled).
Next to the router is a PC and an ethernet wire goes from the PC into the router to allow it to use the internet.
I also have an office upstairs so another ethernet wire goes from the router through the floorboards into my office.
I want to use 2 computers in my office, so the ethernet wire from downstairs plugs into a hub in my office.
Then the two computers in my office both plug into the hub with an ethernet wire each.
So the two PCs in my office "share" the hub, and the hub and the PC downstrairs "share" the router.
Hopefully showing how they are used in a practical sense makes it clear.
To expand on Beso's answers. I agree entirtely with him on the hub and swicth description but feel his explanation of a router (whilst it may be technically correct) probably won't help you too much.
You'd generally (though not exclusively) use a Router to connect to an Internet connection whereas a Switch or Hub would just be used to connect computers together on a Network and/or to a Router that then connects to the Internet (to allows those computers on the Network to connect through the Network (Computer to Switch/Hub to Router) to the Internet).
Most home Routers also have in built Switch capability, i.e. one port connects to the Internet and the other ports connect to computers (or other devices such as Network printers) to connect those computers together (if you so wish) and/or to connect those computers to the Internet.
You'd generally (though not exclusively) use a Router to connect to an Internet connection whereas a Switch or Hub would just be used to connect computers together on a Network and/or to a Router that then connects to the Internet (to allows those computers on the Network to connect through the Network (Computer to Switch/Hub to Router) to the Internet).
Most home Routers also have in built Switch capability, i.e. one port connects to the Internet and the other ports connect to computers (or other devices such as Network printers) to connect those computers together (if you so wish) and/or to connect those computers to the Internet.
hub and switch are both correct
I think the router is spot on - but it's a definition not an explanation
router
It depends what you call a router -
the thing you have on the end of your phone line is actually a device which has built into it DNS, DHCP a firewall (generally) a web server (for the menu) a modem, a wireless access point, a switch/hub
oh and a router ........
if you mean the device known as a router
basically (this is a ridiculously over simplified explanation)
a router is a T junction that knows it's subnet address
so My Network (lan) ________ the next router/wan
...................................................|
...........................................from outside
a data packet comes in .... hits the router.
the router looks at the packet and says EITHER
this is for me ..... and routes it into it's bit of the lan(subnet)
or .... this isn't for me ... go ask the next router
and so packets pass round the route(ers) until someone accepts them.
If no one accepts the data packet (it's for the internet) .... one of the routers (gateway) will say this packet doesn't belong here at all
and kicks it out to the ISP
and so it repeats ...... until it finds a home
so a router basically says
is it for me? if yes - let it in ....... if NO - pass it on
there is a lot more finesse to it than that - but that's the basic principle
I think the router is spot on - but it's a definition not an explanation
router
It depends what you call a router -
the thing you have on the end of your phone line is actually a device which has built into it DNS, DHCP a firewall (generally) a web server (for the menu) a modem, a wireless access point, a switch/hub
oh and a router ........
if you mean the device known as a router
basically (this is a ridiculously over simplified explanation)
a router is a T junction that knows it's subnet address
so My Network (lan) ________ the next router/wan
...................................................|
...........................................from outside
a data packet comes in .... hits the router.
the router looks at the packet and says EITHER
this is for me ..... and routes it into it's bit of the lan(subnet)
or .... this isn't for me ... go ask the next router
and so packets pass round the route(ers) until someone accepts them.
If no one accepts the data packet (it's for the internet) .... one of the routers (gateway) will say this packet doesn't belong here at all
and kicks it out to the ISP
and so it repeats ...... until it finds a home
so a router basically says
is it for me? if yes - let it in ....... if NO - pass it on
there is a lot more finesse to it than that - but that's the basic principle
hang on there ....
before you go down a route(r)
expanding a company network isn't the same thing at all.... there are other considerations depending on the size of the network, the number of subnets required, the physical size of the space to be covered .... and the amount/type of traffic to be carried.
home networking is called "home" networking because it's such small scale that very little actually matters other that getting string that's long enough
I'm guessing from the question you aren't particularly savvy with networks - depending on the above - you could seriously damage your promotion prospects
of all the computer stuff - networking is still regarded as a black art
what are you aiming at?
before you go down a route(r)
expanding a company network isn't the same thing at all.... there are other considerations depending on the size of the network, the number of subnets required, the physical size of the space to be covered .... and the amount/type of traffic to be carried.
home networking is called "home" networking because it's such small scale that very little actually matters other that getting string that's long enough
I'm guessing from the question you aren't particularly savvy with networks - depending on the above - you could seriously damage your promotion prospects
of all the computer stuff - networking is still regarded as a black art
what are you aiming at?
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