router vs switch

[yeen]

hi guys..okay my question is what is the difference between those two?..kinda confused a bit..hehe
thanks

[pave_spectre]

Have a look at the following threads and see if they help out.

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23913
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6575
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23620


Another simple answer is that a switch is used on a single network whereas a router is used to connect seperate networks.

[rio_bugarin]

i just learned this from school.

My teacher said that a switch is a smart hub. And a router is a multi port bridge. (Did I listened to her right)

this may be a late post but, hey ! A want an avatar:p

[Abbadon]

Originally posted by rio_bugarin
school is fun :-(

You know, it realy is, but you need the correct patches & cracks :D

(ok, useless post, I know, but I'm bored. My systems are running fine and there's nothing to do but making backups & reading logs... >insert yawning smily here< )

[deddard]

Originally posted by rio_bugarin
i just learned this from school.

My teacher said that a switch is a smart hub. And a router is a multi port bridge. (Did I listened to her right)

THings a bit confused here - a hub is a dumb bit of equipment which just broadcasts any information sent to it.
A switch is a layer 2 (OSI) device which is a multi-port bridge. Switches can create many collision domains.
Routers work at OSI layer 3, using IP addresses as opposed to the MAC addresses used by switches (OK, so routers do use MAC addresses, but can't use MAC addresses as an addressing scheme)

[rio_bugarin]

Bad Rio . Verrryyy Baaaddd. I need to punish myself for sleeping again in class...(rio smashes his head to the wall) oopss someone's reading (rio disappeared like smoke):p

believe me im still cofused with those...:D This is what i love in this forum... i learn a lot. Its better to ask here than to instructors.

rio : sir,what is that seen beside the hub?
sir : i dont know. Read a book. You'll learn what that is
rio : :mad:

[Abbadon]

Rio,

as far as networking is concerned, books & teachers are great, but they'll only get you so far. Once you get the basics, you out and do stuff! There's no substitute for experience...

[rio_bugarin]

i agree.

there are just people who refuse to let you learn the basics. i dont know why. maybe they just want you to or make you look up to them more.

i never wanted to be like that. thats why i stayed in this forum. i wanted to share my knowledge to those who need it. and i learn more...

[Beta Geek]

Are you talking a [real] router or a DSL/cable router? All a DSL router is is a basic device that connects your ISP’s network (through the DSL/Cable modem) to your home network. It usually has one external port, and one internal port, which is usually attached to an integrated switch, which contains the 4 or 5 LAN ports.

Some basic clarification of what each device does:

Repeater: Cleans up and retransmits packets on a network.

Hub: Multi port repeater that transmits received packets out all of it’s ports except the one it received the packets on.

Bridge: (usually two ports) Receives packets on one port and based on the destination MAC address, decides whether or not to forward it to the other interface.

Switch: A multi port bridge. Accepts packets on an interface, and based on the destination MAC address, sends the packets out the appropriate interface. Allows multiple “conversations” to take place between different hosts.

Router: Forwards packets and makes best-path selection decisions based on IP, IPX, etc. addresses. It chooses the correct interface, and uses the MAC address to forward the packet to the next hop (router interface) or the destination network.

Hope that helps a bit.