Role of Switch in this network

[mysgies]

Hi All,

I am having a small network at home, I am unable to understand the role of Switch in this network.

Please see the picture below and help me understand why Switch is used in this configuration, is it possible to omit it.

Each arrow in this diagram is a network cable. I am not sure the wiring in the underground block, only 1 connection is taken out from the Switch and a Ethernet point is available in each room.

http://i1.tinypic.com/4p3mqon.jpg

Sorry don't know how to embedd the image here.

Thanks in advance.

Sgies

 

[bluestrobe]

How many ports does your router have on it?

 

[JackMDS]

A Router is a combo unit that includes Routing circuit to share Internet, and a Switch (a Wireless Router also has an Access Point).

What the Routing circuit do read here, http://www.ezlan.net/routers.html

Many Modem/Router combo devices have a switch with one port. A typical stand alone Cable/DSL Router has 4 ports.

A switch is like the hallway in an apartment building. Each apartment has a door to the hall and the traffic between apartments is conducted through the hallway.

Similarly a Switch has ports (doors for computers) and all traffic between the computers is conducted through the switch.

Switch = Hallways. Doors = RJ-45 ports. Apartments = Computers.

Switches can be chained to get more ports, if a Router does nor have enough ports for the wired computers an additional switch (like the one in your picture) provides more ports so more computers can be connected to the Network.

 

[mysgies]

I can understand from above comments the Switch is used to increase the number of connections, can I confirm if I had sufficient ports in my router, I can safely omit the switch?

 

[bluestrobe]

Originally posted by: mysgies
I can understand from above comments the Switch is used to increase the number of connections, can I confirm if I had sufficient ports in my router, I can safely omit the switch?

yes