Whats the difference between a router and a switch?

Maetryx

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2001
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A switch is like an intelligent hub, that manages the traffic so that each connection has a full measure of the bandwidth, instead of sharing the bandwidth.

A router is a switch with the ability to uplink to another network (like the internet). The other network (or internet) communicates with the router and the router forwards the communication to the correct device.
 

z0mb13

Lifer
May 19, 2002
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Originally posted by: Maetryx
A switch is like an intelligent hub, that manages the traffic so that each connection has a full measure of the bandwidth, instead of sharing the bandwidth.

A router is a switch with the ability to uplink to another network (like the internet). The other network (or internet) communicates with the router and the router forwards the communication to the correct device.

isnt hub and switch the same thing??
 

Maetryx

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2001
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Originally posted by: z0mb13
Originally posted by: Maetryx
A switch is like an intelligent hub, that manages the traffic so that each connection has a full measure of the bandwidth, instead of sharing the bandwidth.

A router is a switch with the ability to uplink to another network (like the internet). The other network (or internet) communicates with the router and the router forwards the communication to the correct device.

isnt hub and switch the same thing??

A hub has no intelligence. It is the equivalent of a solder joint.
 

Jmmsbnd007

Diamond Member
May 29, 2002
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Originally posted by: Maetryx
A switch is like an intelligent hub, that manages the traffic so that each connection has a full measure of the bandwidth, instead of sharing the bandwidth.

A router is a switch with the ability to uplink to another network (like the internet). The other network (or internet) communicates with the router and the router forwards the communication to the correct device.
Actually, switches just route the packets to the correct computer. It has nothing to do with bandwidth.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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Originally posted by: Maetryx
A switch is like an intelligent hub, that manages the traffic so that each connection has a full measure of the bandwidth, instead of sharing the bandwidth.

A router is a switch with the ability to uplink to another network (like the internet). The other network (or internet) communicates with the router and the router forwards the communication to the correct device.

a router isn't a switch. many of them include switched hubs in the same box but not all.