What is difference between Hub vs Switch???

[gredodenda]

I'm going to buy Linksys FAST ENET NETWORK 10/100, but there are two versions and I don't know the difference.

Model #FENSK05
This is the one that created monster sale
It comes with a HUB

Model #FESWSK5
Slight more expensive than FENSK05 and it comes with a SWITCH. not a hub.

What is the differnce??? What is hub and switch used for?
Sorry for dumb questions, but I really need to know. Thanks

 

[Supergax]

Switches allow for full duplex, hubs only allow half duplex. Full duplex equates to bi-directional, the fact that you can send and receive data on the same line at the same time. Half duplex used in hubs allows for both sending and receiving data, but it can't happen at the same time. This is what makes switches more expensive than hubs.

I have the Linksys 10/100 5-port switch, and have no problems with it, works like a champ.

 

[Eug]

Hmmm... I always assumed the switch referred more to the 10/100 auto-sensing. But I guess this doesn't make sense, since there is also the auto-sensing 10/100 hub. Correct? Can you run an autosensing hub at variable speeds, or do they all drop down to 10 in a mixed setup?

I'm going to buy the linksys switch anyway (it's all of 10 bux more), but I'm just wondreing.

 

[Norssak]

Switch VS Hub, my 2 cents:

First off, both act as "repeaters", they both receive a signal from one of their ports and actively propagate the signal through one or more of their ports. If hubs did not do this, why do they need a power supply?

More importantly: A hub will send ANY signal it receives out all of its ports (except the one which originally sent it) This causes much unnecessary traffic, and ultimately makes the concept not scale well.

A switch is much smarter, it learns the Mac-addresses of all the devices which are connected to it. If it receives a data packet with a valid destination address, it will send that packet only out the port which is connected to the intended recipient. A switch will still propagate a non-addressed packet to all available ports, but these usually make up a minimal percentage of all network traffic. More expensive hardware, better concept, scales much better.

Yes, Duplexing can occur if both Switch and Nic are configured for it (Doubles potential throughput).

 

[lowtech1]

Switch - Packet switching (single direct route to destination)

Hub - Packet broadcasting (entire subnet/network is flooded with packets)

Switch is much more efficient on bandwidth usage, while Hub can clutter the network.

For home use you will not see much diff between Switch vs. Hub.

 

[gredodenda]

Thanks for great inputs. Sorry about my late reply, but this was more than helpful.
Thank you all

Now, it's time to buy a switch....