What are router, switch, hub, gateway, bridge used for?

Question

And can somebody please tell the answer for every single device I mentioned.. Thank you for answering!

Answer 1

router - this is often a bundle of services for building a local area network. It will contain a gateway or bridge to an internet service provider, and contain a switch for internet sharing. It will also contain a DHCP server, which assigns IP addresses to devices on the LAN/

switch - an Ethernet switch works like a hub, but automatically configures that port for the IP parameters that is needed by that port. So if you are using a cross-over cable to connect to a computer, the switch will automatically cross-back, so it works. This is the NO BRAINER HUB.

hub - a network hub connects various devices to a network. But it is a dumb device, so it is up to the user to plug in the proper patch cable or cross-over cable.

gateway - in general, a gateway is a device that connects a local area network to a wide area network or internet service.

bridge - this is a general term to describe the connection of multiple devices and protocols to direct network communication.

As you can see, a router does it ALL. I recommend that you use a high speed switch if you want to expand the number of ports that your router provides.

OH RATZ.... I started fooling around with this stuff at a whopping 5MHz back in 1983 for the stock exchanges. I rewrote some TCP/IP protocol stuff before most geeks ever heard of it. It was all Digital Equipment and Intel that were banging heads in those days.

Good luck and Happy Computing!

Answer 2

Switch - dumb devices that connects networked devices together allowing them to communicate on the same topology

Hub - older version of a switch but divided the speed between all the connected devices

router - connecting devices on different networks but the same topology

bridge - connecting devices on the same network through different topologies e.g. wireless bridge etc.

gateway - often a router that sits on the edge of a network and manages connections to other networks

Answer 3

theyre for networking if you google each you will get all kinds of good info