Simply put, a switch connects and allows communication of multiple devices within a network, whilst a router connects different networks together. Unfortunately, the terms for switches and routers will often get used interchangeably, which, aside from being wrong, can get quite confusing when trying to decide what requirements your business network has.
It’s important to understand that although they are both types of networking devices, there are some key differences between routers and switches and the different roles they play within your network. In this article, we cover some of the core principles of what each one does and how they differ from each other. We’ve also included some additional information on other types of network devices you may come across.
What is a router and what is it used for?
Usually, the router is the point of entry for data into the wider network. Working in tandem with a modem, its purpose is to connect multiple networks and allow data to be shared across them.
The router does exactly what its name suggests, it routes. More specifically it decides the route a particular data packet needs to take to reach a destination network. Operating at the layer 3 (Network) level of the OSI model, a router works by connecting to other network devices through a wired or wireless connection.
Utilising the target IP address found within the packet data being sent, the router relays that IP packet to the relevant network for further forwarding. Routers are capable of packet switching in a full duplex mode, meaning they can send and receive data at the same time.
Routers often provide a level of security that you won’t get with other network devices, such as a built-in firewall. By acting as a hardware firewall the router can help prevent breaches in security from outside the network. This combined with a software firewall can help improve the overall security of your network.
A router also has the ability to effectively route the traffic being received through the network. Utilising a QoS (quality of service) protocol, network operators can choose which applications get traffic priority. By sending the packets of data in an organised way, it can determine the best use of the available bandwidth and ensure that important data is relayed first, which helps reduce the overall data load of the network traffic.
What is a network switch and what is it used for?
Sometimes called a Network or Ethernet switch, a switch is a piece of hardware that is used to relay information across a network. Quite often this will be a LAN (Local Area Network) such as an office.
Consisting of several ports, a switch is able to send data to a specific device or computer it is connected to. It does this by identifying the MAC address (media access control) associated with that specific device and forwarding the data to only that device.
Switches allow network operators to have multiple device connections in a link together, the switch can then transfer information between them as required. Most switches operate at Layer 2 of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) architecture, meaning the devices they support are connected to the switch by an ethernet cable.
An important distinction to note is that a switch will always have a wired network connection via ethernet cables, whereas a router can connect to network devices through a wired or wireless connection.
Similar to a router, switches operate using full-duplex data transmission, meaning they can send and receive data at the same time.
Can a switch be used as a router?
Technically yes, a switch could be used as a router. However, it won’t do the job as well. There are many features of a router that a switch can’t handle. For example, a switch has no inbuilt security, such as a firewall. It is also unable to manage the packet forwarding as effectively meaning it could cause a slowdown to your network. It can only connect to a device by a hard connection, meaning there is no opportunity for any wireless connectivity.
Other types of network device
When trying to identify what architecture you will require for your network, there are a couple of other types of network devices that should be considered. Modems and hubs. Below, we give an overview of what they are and how they support your network.
What is a modem and what is it used for?
A modem operates as a direct connection to the internet. Its primary use is to take digital information generated from within computer networks and convert them into an analogue signal which can then be transmitted across telephone lines. An equivalent modem at the receiving end then converts the signal back into digital information to be processed by the router.
If you want to access the internet then, yes, you do need a modem. The modem acts as your network’s primary connection to the internet. Without one there is no way of converting the digital signals from inside a network to the analogue signals required to be sent across telephone lines.
In home computing, many ISPs provide a ‘gateway’ unit that functions as both a modem and wireless router. This setup is fine for home use where there are a smaller number of devices using the network, but would not be suitable for larger organisations.
Can I use a router without a modem?
Yes, because the router is responsible for transferring data between devices in the network it’s still possible to do this without an internet connection. However, you won’t get full internet functionality because the router still needs the connection offered by the modem to access the internet.
What is a hub?
A hub is a simple and cheap device that is similar to a switch in the sense that it operates in a LAN and allows multiple computers to connect directly to a single network. Where it differs is that there is no intelligence to the destination where the data it receives is sent. Unlike a switch, any data packets received by the hub via one of its ports are automatically transmitted to all other devices connected to it.
Hubs are becoming less used in modern networking due to the falling prices of switches, which complete a similar role, but with additional functionality. Hubs are also further limited as they only operate on half-duplex transmission, meaning one node can send or receive data, but not at the same time.
Should I buy refurbished networking equipment?
There are several reasons to buy refurbished network equipment. Firstly there’s the cost benefit. Upgrading or finding replacement parts for your existing network hardware can prove a costly exercise. Purchasing refurbished telecom equipment can prove to be a cost-effective way to upgrade your existing equipment as you can often find the parts you’re looking for at a fraction of the cost of buying them new.
Secondly, there is the environmental impact to consider when upgrading or replacing your existing network equipment. At TXO we believe in supporting the circular economy. This is the process of extending the life of technology by repairing and refurbishing as much as possible to prevent it from ending up in landfill. By purchasing refurbished telecom equipment, you can help reduce the amount of waste produced by the telecom industry, therefore lessening the environmental impact it has on the planet.
At TXO we have one of the world’s largest selections of refurbished routers, switches and other networking equipment available from leading manufacturers such as Cisco, Juniper and Arista. Not only are they fully serviced and refurbished by our expert engineers prior to sale, TXO also guarantees all parts purchased from us with an extensive 1-year warranty. We can also offer ongoing support with your existing network architecture to help prolong the life of your network even further. Contact us to find out more.
Switch vs router
Now we know we’ve discussed the differences between the various network devices, you should be able to understand the requirements of your business and which type will match your needs best. If you need any further help with this, TXO offers a full range of support for many major network solutions. Give us a call today, to find out how we can help your business going forward.
