Router vs. Switch

[NYHoustonman]

Just moved to Cali, had a router at home with multiple computers... My dad has a switch lying around here and basically what I want to know is would it function the same way as a router, and if not what wuold the difference be?

 

[MtnMan]

Router works to route traffic from one network to a DIFFERENT network. Example, your home network is one network, and the internet is a DIFFERENT network. It makes the decision to route traffic based on the high lever TCP/IP addresses.

Switches work to switch traffic from host to host on the SAME network. Example between two PC's in your home connected to the switch. It switches traffic based on the lower lever MAC address.

A router and a switch are not interchangeable.

Now the LinkSys, D-Link and other routers sold for home use are a combination Router and Switch. Cable or DSL modem connects to the WAN connector, and all computers in the home connect to the LAN side switched ports

 

[HKSturboKID]

Exactly.

 

[SpunkyJones]

Short Version: Switch no work, buy router.

 

[toneman]

Great explanation! Now, can someone describe in layman's terms how a hub fits into the router/switch equation? Also, as to why a bridge is needed in order to connect a console such as PS2 or Xbox to your home LAN/WAN?

Thanks!

 

[dc5]

Originally posted by: toneman
Great explanation! Now, can someone describe in layman's terms how a hub fits into the router/switch equation? Also, as to why a bridge is needed in order to connect a console such as PS2 or Xbox to your home LAN/WAN?

Thanks!

a hub is really a simplified switch. a hub sends information to all ports but switches only send information to the port you speficied. thus making switches more efficient. bridging a game console is only neccessary if you cant plug it to a switch/router.

 

[MrDudeMan]

sorry to bring this backup, but xbox/ps2 requires a bridge (simplified hub) because they are very picky about their networking signal. the xbox will not work with long cables...even cables less than the 100m max. not sure why, but i know some of them have issues.