HUB? Switch? Router?

Question

Ok well me and my friend are stuck on trying to decide what to get should we get a HUB? Router? Switch?

Me and my friend want to get sumthing so we can split the ethernet to both our PC's so we can hook the internet up to both of them

Answer 1

Hub is usually for USB, switch and router are interchangable for ethernet.

Answer 2

The info we do not have is what you want to do.

If you are going to interface more than one pc to the Internet you need a router.

If you have no need to interface with the Internet, then you do not need a router.

A network switch is not the same as a hub. You most likely want a switch as it is more efficient, more capable and it costs about the same if not less than an equivalent size hub. Hubs and switches use the ethernet protocol using RJ 45 connectors and CAT5 cable. Some hubs use usb but more are ethernet.

A hub or switch is the "gathering point" where the CAT5 lines from all pcs and the router come together.

If you wish to interface with the internet, and have no more than 4 LAN pcs and no other pcs or other LAN devices to plug into the network, you may wish to use a router with a built in 4 port LAN as this reduces the equipment to buy. If you have more than 4 wired LAN devices, you need a separate network switch and you run one cat 5 line from the Router LAN port to the switch.

Finally, you can purchase a wireless router. In this case, the LAN can be either totally wireless or partly wireless and partly hard wired. Wireless connections require a wireless adapter on each pc you wish to connect to wirelessly. Many notebooks have built in wireless connections and desktops usually do not but you can add them.

Answer 3

Hub = switch in this day and age; no one use a 10 M Ethernet anymore thus switch is necessary.

Sharing a broadband connection like cable or ADSL? Need a router to do that. Even if you just need some sort of automatic network configuration (aka DHCP) a cheap router may be a good idea.

Answer 4

Try the router, it's the best between all of those you mentioned. With a router you can do many things since it knows and does a lot more that a switch or a hub. The router "knows" the data that goes thru it... it can direct it to your computer both based on the mac address and ip, it has a firewall in it... you can also redirect your ports and many many other things you'll discover. A switch even if it has management, is poor with the options...

Answer 5

Well since I took this in College, you would only need a router. The router will share the internet. If you have Cable internet, then you will need a router for the cable type of internet. I use a wireless router at home. Those are really nice and cheap to use. Easy to use as well. If you are using Windows XP it is a snap. If using Vitsa, it will still be a snap. If you use DSL they have wireless router for that too. I would say ROUTER all the way DUDE. Good luck. [e-mail]. I would go to EBAY or your local electromics store or newegg.com

Answer 6

It depends on what you need.

hubs are no longer used.
A switch is to connect more than one PC to an exiting network, a router is usually also a firewall and switch and may also be wifi, but it is only needed if you are connecting to the internet and do not already have a broadband connection in place.

I hope this helps !

Answer 7

Router... never a hub....

hub is layer 1 (physical)
switch is layer 2 ( data)
router is layer 3 ( network)

the hub is the simplest and easiest to ue. but for performance ... your going to suffer..
switches are great, but the router gives the added flexibility and security

Answer 8

hub

Answer 9

more info is needed!