what is the difference between an ethernet network "hub" and a "switch"?

Answer 1

A hub and a switch are very similar, but an Ethernet switch is build with some better hardware to run faster. Usually, everyone on a hub shares the available bandwidth, so the more people you put on a hub, the slower each connection will be. Switches usually provide the full 10 or 100 (or even 1,000) Mbps to each connection and by being smart enough to route traffic efficiently, they minimize noticeable slowdowns. In today's world, small switches cost only slightly more than hubs and it makes little sense to even buy a hub. The only way I would use a hub is if I had multiple laptops that wanted to share data and wireless was not available. Since you can still find some hubs that do not require external power, that would be the only reason I would use one.

Also, many home network people now use a small router in between their home network and their DSL or Cable Modem. This router usually has built in switch ports for your connection as well as some have wireless capability. This allows you to "hide" your network behind the single IP address provided by your ISP and have as many private IP addresses as you have defined on your network. For more information about this, I would suggest you look up NAT (Network Address Translation).

Answer 2

Darron.Net, answers this exact question as follows:

The term ‘hub’ is sometimes used to refer to any piece of network equipment that connects PCs together, but it actually refers to a multi-port repeater. This type of device simply passes on (repeats) all the information it receives, so that all devices connected to its ports receive that information.

Hubs repeat everything they receive and can be used to extend the network. However, this can result in a lot of unnecessary traffic being sent to all devices on the network. Hubs pass on traffic to the network regardless of the intended destination; the PCs to which the packets are sent use the address information in each packet to work out which packets are meant for them. In a small network repeating is not a problem but for a larger, more heavily used network, another piece of networking equipment (such as a switch) may be required to help reduce the amount of unnecessary traffic being generated.

Switches
Switches control the flow of network traffic based on the address information in each packet. A switch learns which devices are connected to its ports (by monitoring the packets it receives), and then forwards on packets to the appropriate port only. This allows simultaneous communication across the switch, improving bandwidth.

This switching operation reduces the amount of unnecessary traffic that would have occurred if the same information had been sent from every port (as with a hub).

Switches and hubs are often used in the same network; the hubs extend the network by providing more ports, and the switches divide the network into smaller, less congested sections

Answer 3

Hub allow you to share connection, switch lets you connect additional computer to it.