Routers and Switches
Routers are dedicated computers that transmit messages to its destination. It connects wired and wireless networks such as LAN to WAN. When dealing with the internet, routers are an intermediate point for network traffic. The router is the recipient of the TCP/IP packets, parses that packet to locate the IP address and then delivers that message to the proper recipient. Home networks use routers to connect to the internet by connecting its local area network to the wide area network. (B. Mitchell, 2007) The advantages of using a router is the appearance of a hardware firewall but they can be very costly. (PracticallyNetworked, 2007)
A network switches are a components that links computers within a local area network. Network switches operate at Layer 2 of the OSI model. Network switches are able to examine a data packet as they are received establish the intended recipient and deliver the packet. (B. Mitchell, 2007) The advantage of using switches increases the speed the network response time by decreasing the network load. The disadvantages of using a switch instead of a router is the absence of hardware firewall. (PracticallyNetworked, 2007)
The difference between routers and switches is the ability for routers to join multiple networks or share internet connections. If a network has switches it has to designate on computer as the gateway to the internet and the other device must have two network adapters for the local area network and the other wide area network. Routers uniformly connect computers to each others. (B. Mitchell, 2007)
Bradley Mitchell, (2007) What is the Difference between a router and hub or switch. Retrieved on 24 Decemeber 2007 from http://compnetworking.about.com/od/hardwarenetworkgear/g/bldef_switch.htm
Pratically Networked, (2007) What's the Difference Between Routers, Switches and Hubs? Retrieved on 24 December 2007 from http://www.practicallynetworked.com/networking/routers_switches_hubs.shtml
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