Network: Hub vs. Router

[JBAndo]

Hopefully this is more simple than the screen resolution question. What is the difference between a router and a hub? I would like to set up a home network. Linksys has a network kit: hub, 10/100 cards, cables, and software. However I have been told that I need a router (plus cables, cards and software). Routers are about 100 bucks, but I've seen the kit for about 80.

Thanks, Joe

[amabone]

hellow yooo tsup wit u i can advaise u one thing, if u plan to setup that network in a very big area u should use a router but if is just at home use a hub thats all i know.

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ag

[Ghost_Hacker]

A router takes traffic that comes in one port and sends it only to the port that holds the designation computer. A Hub on the other hand will take traffic that comes in one port and send it out to every other port regardless of whether the designation computer is on that port or not. (hubs are dumb, routers are smart is one way to think of it)

For a home network you could use ether one really. A router is often used by home users when they want extra security or to share one external IP address with many internal computers. A hub offers no security and since it has no IP address can't be used for "IP sharing".


Hope this helps http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[rond36]

A router offers some advantages that a hub doesn't. It will act as a server meaning you don't need a PC on the network to act as the server wasting its recourses. It will act as a DHCP server adding security and ease of setup for the clients. To add a client all you need to do is install a NIC and plug in the CAT 5 cable and connect to the internet the router will assign it an IP address subnet mask and DNS server. Will also act a hardware firewall protecting your network from the internet. You can use the PCs one at a time without the need to have a server PC running(unless you need files from another PC)all PCs on the network are clients the router is the server. Using a router you need only one NIC per PC, using a hub depending on your setup you need two NICs in the server PC. The only disadvantage I have found is a router needs configured and a hub doesn't. With the proper software(Sybergen Sygate) a hub can function the same as a router offering a DHCP server NATS gateway firewall and a virtual NIC for the hub. The only draw back is you need a PC acting as server and host for the virtual NIC. The Linksys kit comes with Sybergen Sygate With 5 client licence 5 port hub 2 10/100 NICs 2 15ft CAT 5 patch cables. I couldn't get mine to work as explained above. I could only get it to work with 2 NICs in the server. You might have better luck. I still have it but bought a Linksys cable/DSL router. I like it a lot better. Once you get the router setup the rest is easy.

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How to Use the Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or Repartition a Hard Disk (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q255867)
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[This message has been edited by rond36 (edited 04-10-2002).]

[Ghost_Hacker]

With the proper software(Sybergen Sygate) a hub can function the same as a router offering a DHCP server NATS gateway firewall and a virtual NIC for the hub.

Sygate is not installed on the hub, but is installed on a windows box.
Installing software in a network topology that features a hub is not the same as installing that software on the hub itself.

Again hubs are "dumb" network devices they are never assigned ip addresses and they don't act as servers. Once a "box" does that it's not a hub. There are some "managed hubs" IE: stackable hubs with a manage module, but a home user and even most business users aren't likely ever going to come across one of them. ( At least I've never worked with one ...Why buy that when you can get a switch???)

However feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about Sygate http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif




[This message has been edited by Ghost_Hacker (edited 04-10-2002).]

[rond36]

With the proper software(Sybergen Sygate) a hub can function the same as a router offering a DHCP server NATS gateway firewall and a virtual NIC for the hub. The only draw back is you need a PC acting as server and host for the virtual NIC. Yes the server software runs on the server PC.

------------------
How to Use the Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or Repartition a Hard Disk (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q255867)
WindowsBBS.com (http://www.WindowsBBS.com/index.php?referrerid=115) Is back online, check it out

[sea69]

oh boy, a chance to show off how dumb I was.

wanting to "network"- not really- just share an internet (DSL) connection, between a winXP Pro machine and a win98se machine I purchased a "NETGEAR Ethernet Hub™ EN104".

both machines have one NIC.

innitially I set it up using ICS with the winXP one as the server. This meant that the other machine (win98se) could not get online unless the winXP machine was on.

I found this annoying, so I merely used the verizon install CD and put a their winpoet dialer on both systmes, use the same logon and pw on both machines, plugged into the HUB, and they both now are totally indepedant of each other.

the signal comes from the westall DSL modem to the HUB, then each machine plugs into the hub.

no other software or connections to or from the two machines was needed.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif



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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/index.html)

[rond36]

Sea, I couldn't use that setup because my ISP doesn't use Winpoet and I don't need to dial for a connection. My IP address is static. If I tried to use that setup I could not have both PCs booted up at the same time or share files over the network. If I did boot both PCs I would have an IP address conflict and neither PC could connect to the intranet or internet.

------------------
How to Use the Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or Repartition a Hard Disk (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q255867)
WindowsBBS.com (http://www.WindowsBBS.com/index.php?referrerid=115) Is back online, check it out

[sea69]

with a static IP you're correct sir.

mines dynamic.


http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif




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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/index.html)