How Network Switches, Routers, and Hubs Work

Network hubs, network switches, network routers… What does it all even mean? All of these devices and terms can be confusing, and to some, they might even be interchangeable. However, the fact remains that they all serve different purposes, and some might not be the right solution for your business’ needs. Today, we want to break down the differences and when you might consider one over the other for your infrastructure.

But first, one commonality between all three of these devices: they connect one computer to another. The scope and scale of this functionality, however, differs between each of these devices.

Network Hubs

A hub can connect computers to a private network without any external networks, which means it can only communicate with local devices. The hub receives data packets, then broadcasts it to other devices on the network. This means the bandwidth is split between all of the network’s devices; the more devices connected to the hub, the less that’s available for all of them, leading to slower connection speeds. While the hub was once a popular solution, network switches are the preferred choice these days.

Network Switches

Switches are similar to hubs in that they connect computers, but they handle data packets differently. The switch determines where the data needs to go, then routes the data in that direction. While a hub might broadcast the data packets to all computers on the network, a switch is more efficient, as it saves bandwidth by sharing it with only one device at a time rather than the whole network all at once.

Network Routers

The router’s job is to route data packets to other networks rather than across local computers. Routers are responsible for connecting your business to the Internet. Think of the router as the go-between for your network and the Internet, as well as a device that grants access to various other solutions important for browsing the Internet, like firewalls, traffic monitoring, Virtual Private Networks, and so on.

What Networking Equipment Do I Need?

That entirely depends on your business, but we’ll let you in on the secret hack to figuring out what your organization should be using for its networking components: contact SMART Services.

Our trusted technicians can help you work through the infrastructure of your network and determine the best way to build the most efficient and secure network possible. After all, why do all the heavy lifting yourself when you can simply hire us to do it? Learn more by contacting SMART Services at 586 258-0650 today.