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The difference between a switch and a router. How is a switch different from a router? network hardware

For organization local network with more than two nodes required optional equipment. Those who live by the principle of “necessary and sufficient” will have to choose a device for connecting computers into a network in accordance with specific tasks and do it without minimum set knowledge is impossible. Today, two types of devices attract the attention of users - a switch and a router, and each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Definition

Switch- a network switch that provides direct interaction between several computers in one local network segment via primarily an Ethernet interface.

Router- network device or separate computer, connecting network nodes and transmitting data packets between them based on rules.

Comparison

The difference between a switch and a router is the functionality of each device. Today, a switch is the simplest network equipment that allows two or more computers on the network to exchange information. The switch forwards packets in accordance with the sender's request exactly to the computer for which they are intended, thereby ensuring minimal security on the network. The router supports the interaction of all computers on the network via an Ethernet interface or wireless communication, simultaneously connecting the local network to the provider’s network, which allows all participants to access the Internet. Switch yourself to global network does not connect.

The functionality of a router is much higher than that of a switch. It transmits data in accordance with routing tables. In addition, modern routers can act as a firewall, providing connection protection, enabling data encryption and address translation.

The switch operates at the second (link) level of the OSI model, which means it receives not only signals, but also monitors the contents of packets to identify the destination MAC address. The router operates at layer 3 of the OSI model, monitoring packets to identify network addresses. Routing tables are more complex and weigh more than the switching tables that the switch works with.

Conclusions website

  1. A switch is a basic device, a router is more complex.
  2. The switch cannot connect to the Internet.
  3. The router works with routing tables.
  4. The router represents an element of the third level of the OSI model, the switch represents the second (channel).
  5. The switch works with MAC addresses, the router works with IP addresses.
  6. The router ensures data transmission security at a higher level.

To find the differences between a switch and a router, we first introduce the term “Hub”. Hub- the simplest device that ensures the interaction of computers on a network. Each computer connects to the hub using Ethernet cable. All information sent from one computer to another on a local network passes through a hub. The hub cannot determine the source or destination of the received data, so it forwards it to all computers connected to it, including the one from which the information was sent. A hub can either transmit or receive data, but cannot do both at the same time. This is why hubs are slower than switches. Hubs are the least complex and least expensive devices for building a network. Switches They work like hubs, but at the same time they can determine the destination of the received data, so they transmit it only to those computers for which this data is intended (the mac address of the recipient’s computer is added to the sent frame). We can say that the switch "operates" at the data link layer of the OSI model using frames. Switches can receive and transmit data at the same time, making them faster than hubs. If there are four or more computers on the local network or you need to use the network for activities that involve the exchange of large amounts of information between computers, you should choose a switch instead of a hub.

Routers allow computers to exchange data both on the current local network and between two separate network segments, for example, between a home local network and the Internet. Routers get their name from their ability to route network traffic along a specific route using logical addressing (IP and packets). Routers "work" on network level OSI models. Routers can be wired (using Ethernet cables) or wireless (Wifi), as well as with additional functions (VPN). If you simply need to connect computers, hubs and switches will ideal solution. However, if you need to give all your computers access to the Internet using a single cable or modem, use a router or modem with a built-in router. In addition, routers usually have built-in security components, such as a firewall. also in in capable hands:) a router can turn into network storage data, print server, home hosting.
Thus, switches operate at the data link layer of the OSI model using frames and connect computers on the same network segment. Routers operate at the network layer of the OSI model and can connect computers on different network segments, for example, an office local network and the Internet.

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Answers:

Shurovik:
A hub (also known as a switch) is a device for connecting several computers into a network. Its action is simple: having received a data packet from one port, it sends it to all the others. If several packets go to the same port at the same time, they collide. Hence the so-called "collisions" that slow down the network. A switch (aka a hub) is the same hub, only with “brains”. It remembers what address is on each of its ports, and when a data packet arrives (and the packet header contains information about who and from whom), it sends it to desired port. A router (also known as a router) is a device that combines a switch and a proxy server. That is, this device can work as a server, uniting several computers and providing them with access to the Internet through one external address. Sometimes one of the computers on the network can serve as a router. But if buying a separate computer for the router is impractical, a simpler option is installed in the form separate device. Of course, it has fewer features, but so does the price.

Alex:
Just a little bit the other way around: a hub is a concentrator, a switch is a switch.

Far:
A switch and a switch are one and the same. The switch allows you to transmit information only on those ports on which it is necessary, and does not clog other ports with information, unlike a hub, which duplicates information on all ports. And the router finds the shortest and most efficient path for the information to pass through. To design a local network, it is best to use a switch, also known as a switch. And hubs or concentrators are no longer produced at all.

Dr.Boom:
A managed switch, also known as a router, is a switch with even “smarter brains,” which, in addition to the above, can detect broken packets and send them back from the received port for resend this packet... If the repeated packet turns out to be broken, it (control switch) blocks the port from which the broken packets are coming... Not necessarily after the second broken package The port is blocked, you can configure the number of attempts. Sometimes routers are called routers, but this is a mistake... Because a router has even more “brains” than a router (control switch).

A candidate for a position system administrator People often ask about the difference between a router and a switch or a router and a switch. Sometimes they can get caught asking about the difference between a hub and a network concentrator. I suggest you understand the names of network devices and their differences.

Router or Router

Router or router (from English router) - specialized network computer, which has at least one network interface and forwards data packets between different network segments, making forwarding decisions based on information about the network topology and certain rules set by the administrator.

If it is possible to configure such network services like “NAT”, “DHCP” or “Firewall” means it is a router. These include most ADSL modems. Devices are configured via a web interface or special software.

Network hub or hub

Network hub or hub (from English hub) - a device for combining computers into Ethernet network using cable infrastructure like twisted pair. Currently supplanted network switches(switches).

A network concentrator (hub) is a rather primitive device. The incoming packet is sent to everyone who is connected to it. Thus, it is up to the destination computer to determine whether it is the legitimate recipient of the packet or not. If the package is not intended for him, it is destroyed. This approach to data transfer is impractical and therefore in modern network devices not used.

Switch or switch

Network switch or switch (from English switch) - a device designed to connect several nodes computer network within one or more network segments. The switch operates at the data link layer of the OSI model.

Unlike a concentrator (hub), which distributes traffic from one connected device to all others, a switch transmits data only directly to the recipient (with the exception of broadcast traffic to all network nodes and traffic for devices for which it is unknown outgoing port switch). This improves network performance and security by freeing other network segments from having to process data that was not intended for them.

When organizing a computer network, the question of purchasing special devices – switches and routers – always arises. Let's take a quick look at the purposes of this equipment and look at the main differences between these two types.

A network switch or switch (from the English switch) is a device designed to connect several computers into a local network. By using bridge technology, information is transmitted to only one local user, as a result of which it improves overall performance the entire network.

After the first connection, the switch compiles a so-called switching table, which stores information about the correspondence of ports and MAC addresses of connected devices. In other words, the switch independently remembers the data transmission route.

Router

Unlike a switch, a router or router is a more complex device, being a mini-computer that, in addition to a local network, organizes access to the Internet and has many other functions:


What is the difference between a router and a switch?

Now that we understand the purpose of both devices, we can understand their differences:

  • A router is a more complex device with an expanded set of functions.
  • Switch and router use different principles for data transfer.
  • Switches are capable of transmitting only in one subnet; using a router you can connect several subnet segments.
  • The switch cannot be connected to the Internet on its own.
  • The router has a NAT (Network Address Translation) function, which allows you to convert the IP address issued by your provider into several addresses, which provides access to the Network for several connected devices.
  • The router has more serious hardware that provides various additional functions. The switch is technically simpler, which provides high speed transfers.
  • The powerful hardware of “routers” also affects the cost - their price is much higher than that of switches.

Instead of an afterword

We briefly reviewed the purposes and characteristics of two devices used to create a local network - switches and routers. We hope you now clearly understand the difference between these equipment.