View Full Version : Hub vs. Router
IamAnoobieCheez
12-04-2005, 10:25 PM
sorry.... this is something i should already know but...
What's the main difference between a hub and a router? I've used to run router at home before... and used to transfer data back n forth all the time.
At work, I use a hub, and I can do exact same thing, transfer data and browse internet. I don't see the difference between the two devices. Is there some limitation with the hub or what. :stick: :slapass:
eshbach
12-04-2005, 10:34 PM
there are 3 things here... hub, switch, router.
at home i'm guessing you use a router with a built in switch...
a hub is exactly what it sounds like.... the data comes in from multiple places and and goes out to multiple places.
a switch is like a hub, but it is regulated. in a hub, you can have one computer use the entirety of the available bandwidth. this will not happen with a switch because it "switches" between all connections so each connection gets its share of the bandwidth when needed.
a router is entirely different. a router takes data from one network and forwards it to another network, doing whatever address translation is neccessary. A true stand-alone router generally only has an input and an output, so most home routers have a built in switch so you can hook up multiple computers.
IamAnoobieCheez
12-05-2005, 10:14 AM
thanks eshbach.
i used to use a router with switches built in.. to connect multiple computers.
I am able to access other networks in the same building with the hub. I believe we have two sets of network.. Didn't you say that it is the router that will allow to transfer data from network to network? I'm able to do the samething with the hub at work.. Did i missunderstood what you meant, or please explain to me what you meant.. thanx :)
eshbach
12-05-2005, 10:35 AM
thanks eshbach.
i used to use a router with switches built in.. to connect multiple computers.
I am able to access other networks in the same building with the hub. I believe we have two sets of network.. Didn't you say that it is the router that will allow to transfer data from network to network? I'm able to do the samething with the hub at work.. Did i missunderstood what you meant, or please explain to me what you meant.. thanx :)
A hub can connect segments of the same network but it cannot translate you from one network to another. you couldn't use a hub to go from your work network to your home network, you would have to go through a series of routers (over the internet).
IamAnoobieCheez
12-05-2005, 01:45 PM
ahh... i see the difference now. That clears it up for me. Thanks eshbach, you're my hero.. :D
A switch will provide you with better network speeds for each computer that is connected to it, a hub will split that all up equally regardless. I.E., switches are more efficient.
WesM63
12-07-2005, 11:56 AM
Hubs are just large repeaters. They take the data and pass it on to every port regardless of where it is supposed to be going. Very in-efficent and slow.
Switchs are smart devices, they recognize where data is coming from and going via MAC address. The data is only passed from one computer to another, not every computer like a Hub. Very efficent and fast!
If you are using a hub, move to a switch and the speed will be night and day diffrence.