What is the difference among switcher , Hub and Router ?

Answer 1

A hub is a very fundamental and rather unintelligent device that is used as a "gathering point" where the different LAN lines merge. A hub uses the "collision domain" principal to its ultimate. This means that there is no traffic control on a hub. If 2 or more units send data simultaneously, there is no system to control the traffic and the data will collide. Because of this, traffic in a hub can appear slower than expected. Also, a hub runs at the slowest speed of all devices plugged into it. For example if you have 7 devices that can run at 100 Mbps and one that runs at 10 Mbps, all will be slowed to 10 Mbps.

A switch appears on the surface to do the same as a hub. It is more intelligent however. It permits and denies traffic avoiding collissions. Further each port runs at whatever speed the down stream devices can tollerate, so you don't slow down the entire network because of one slow device. You also do not have collisions which cause retransmissions, so merely replacing a 10/100 hub with a 10/100 switch can result in what appears to be a faster network. It is no faster, but it is not bogged down by collisions and slow users so it is more efficient and appears to be faster. Today, switches cost about the same as hubs and hubs have for the most part been retired.

A router is a different device entirely. Many routers integrate a small switch in them and this can confuse people. In fact, the integrated 4 port LAN switch has become very popular in low end household routers but this is an afterthought. This is not to minimize the convenience of the integrated switch but to indicate the LAN switch is an afterthought. In larger networks, the router has 1 LAN port that plugs into a 24 port network switch or a bank of 24 port LAN switches. A typical switch does not have its own IP address.

Switches can be unmanaged or managed. Managed switches do all the work of unmanaged and they further subdivide the network into segments called Virtual LANs or VLANS. This better controls traffic and can assure limitations of traffic within a VLAN. Managed switches can also allocate bandwidth among VLANS andprovide priority access to high priority traffic, depending upon how it is programmed and configured. A managed switch usually has its own LAN IP address. Managed switches cost more than unmanaged.

A router is designed to permit several LAN devices to share one Internet port. Most LAN traffic is between LAN devices and only some LAN traffic goes to the WAN port. The WAN port is often connected to an Internet Feed, to one side of a point - to - point line, and to an upstream network switch to further subdivide a network, as is proper. The router has more intelligence. It provides LAN IP addresses to all LAN devices, controls traffic on the LAN, sends traffic out its WAN port when appropriate and permits WAN traffic into its WAN port and sends it to proper LAN devices when the WAN traffic is appropriate. The router further denies WAN traffic that it does not recognize, and this makes it a firewall too. The router does not identify its LAN IP addresses to the WAN; rather it uses its WAN IP address when it communicates upstream. It tracks the request and a reply is recognized, permitted, and sent to the initial requesting LAN IP address. This is called Network Access Translation (NAT). Clearly for NAT to work, the router's LAN IP addresses must be in a subnet different from its WAN IP address.

Routers come in different sizes, capabilities, and prices. Typical simple household routers are under $100 and accept ethernet signals on their WAN port. More advanced gateway routers, which accept ethernet signals on their WAN port can run up to $800 and can also host Virtual Private Networks. Routers that interface with T1 lines have a built in CSU / DSU and do not accept ethernet input signals - and these can cost from $1200 to well over $10,000 depending upon their degree of capability and sophistication.

With the lower end routers, a Wireless Access Point can be integrated into the unit just like a LAN switch can be integrated in. The wireless access point permits LAN devices to commuicate over wireless radio frequencies rather than by network cable. In these cases the switching capability for the wireless is done at the router. Wireless integration is seldomly done on the router in more sophisticated networks for many reasons.

Answer 2

The switcher is used to seperate the connection from 1 cable to many computers. It ca connect up to 125 computers.

Hub is a device for connecting multiple twisted pair or fiber optic Ethernet devices together, making them act as a single segment. Hubs work at the physical layer of the OSI model. The device is thus a form of multiport repeater. Ethernet hubs are also responsible for forwarding a jam signal to all ports if it detects a collision.

Router is a mini switcher. It can connect maximum 4 computers in wire, and up to 10 computers in Wireless (for the best connection). Router can be wire or wireless.

Hope these will help you clearly.

Answer 3

the switchers are used primamarly for 128 mb comps, while the nand gates in the hub allow for flow of electrons at a faster rate. hope this helps, computergeef4life!