Router vs Switch
| Function | Directs data in a network. Passes data between home computers, and between computers and the modem. | Allow connections to multiple devices, manage ports, manage VLAN security settings |
|---|---|---|
| Layer | Network Layer (Layer 3 devices) | Data Link Layer. Network switches operate at Layer 2 of the OSI model. |
| Data Transmission form | Packet | Frame (L2 Switch) Frame & Packet (L3 switch) |
| Transmission Type | At Initial Level Broadcast then Uni-cast & Multicast | First broadcast; then unicast & multicast as needed. |
| Ports | 2/4/5/8 | Switch is multi port Bridge. 24/48 ports |
| Used in (LAN, MAN, WAN) | LAN, MAN, WAN | LAN |
| Device Type | Networking device | Active Device (With Software) & Networking device |
| Table | Store IP address in Routing table and maintain address at its own. | Switches use content accessible memory CAM table which is typically accessed by ASIC (Application Specific integrated chips). |
| Transmission Mode | Full duplex | Half/Full duplex |
| Broadcast Domain | In Router, every port has its own Broadcast domain. | Switch has one broadcast domain [unless VLAN implemented] |
| Definition | A router is a networking device that connects a local network to other local networks. At the Distribution Layer of the network, routers direct traffic and perform other functions critical to efficient network operation. | A network switch is a computer networking device that is used to connect many devices together on a computer network. A switch is considered more advanced than a hub because a switch will on send msg to device that needs or request it |
| Speed | 1-100 Mbps (Wireless); 100 Mbps - 1 Gbps (Wired) | 10/100 Mbps, 1 Gbps |
| Address used for data tramsmission | Uses IP address | Uses MAC address |
| Used for | Connecting two or more networks | Connecting two or more nodes in the same network (L2) or different network (L3) |
| Device Category | Intelligent Device | Intelligent Device |
| Bandwidth sharing | Bandwidth sharing is Dynamic (Enables either static or dynamic bandwidth sharing for modular cable interfaces. The default percent-value is 0. The percent-value range is 1-96.) | There is no sharing port can be 10, 100, 1000 and 10000 Mbps individual |
| Routing Decision | Take faster routing decisions | Take more time for complicated routing decisions |
| NAT (Network Address Translation) | Routers can perform NAT | Switches cannot perform NAT |
| Faster | In a different network environment (MAN/ WAN), a router is faster than an L3 switch. | In a LAN environment, an L3 switch is faster than a router (built-in switching hardware) |
| Features | Firewall VPN Dynamic hadling of Bandwidth | Priority rt range On/Off setting of port VLAN Port mirroring |
| Examples | Linksys WRT54GL Juniper MX & EX series Cisco 3900, 2900, 1900 | Alcatel's OmniSwitch 9000; Cisco Catalyst switch 4500 and 6500 (10 Gbps) |
| Connections | Can connect to multiple PCs or networking devices via Ethernetor WiFi | Can connect to multiple PCs or networking devices (L3 switches) via Cat5, Cat5e |
| Necessary for Internet Connection? | No, but provides additional security and allows for multiple connections. | No |
| Security | Provides security measures to protect network | Port security |
| Manufacturers | Cisco, Netgear, Linksys, Asus, TP-Link, D-Link | Cisco and D-link Juniper |
