router, switch, hub???

[heat23]

Pardon my ignorance, but theres a big gap in my computer literacy when it comes to networking.....

what is the difference betweeh those 3??
I have cablemodem, and i share those with a few computers using a hub.....what if i used a switch or router?? thats the difference in terms of speed, features, setup..etc...

thanks

 

[Athlex]

Here's the short answer:

Hub: Used to connect different systems on a network. Anything sent from one PC is sent to all PCs and the "right" PC at the other end will accept the data.

Switch: A "smart" hub which send data directly from one system to the destination based on its unique MAC address. Switches are also better because they support full-duplex data transfer, allowing data to be sent and received simultaneously.

Router: A device used for connecting two networks. This would be useful in your case to connect a LAN at home to a WAN (the internet via your cable modem.)

Atx

 

[bitterjoe]

Athlex -- excellent nutshell definitions.

Heat23 -- the optimal setup for a small home network sharing a DSL/Cable connection would be to have your modem connect to a router, effectively shielding your network from the Internet. The router would be the only box with an IP address accessible from outside your network, and would assign local IP addresses to your PC's via DHCP. All of the boxes on the LAN would look like they have the router's IP address as you surf the net, but if someone runs a portscan all they see is the router. Depending on the router you can export services to run a server behind the router if you want to -- but that's another story.

A switch is preferable to a hub for your nework to connect to the router if you are using a box as a server, and/or transferring lots of files between boxes. Otherwise, if you are just networking to share the Internet connection and a printer, and don't do a lot of file transferring, a hub is just fine.

My $.02

 

[JackMDS]

Read this, it may be helpful.


The Basic Options to Share Internet Connection (Internet Sharing 101).


Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...?

 

[FlipFlop]

I must agree that was some very nice condensed explaining. I wish that someone a while ago would've explained it like that to me.

 

[heat23]

thanks guys...good explanations..

question...i heard the server doesnt have to be On for the internet to work on the clients if you use a switch...true?? what about for a router??

 

[bitterjoe]

Assuming the workstations use the router as the gateway, you don't even need a server. The server is only necessary if you are setting up a network domain.