routers and switches

[jovearreglo]

how do routers and switches works? which is the best one to use?

[jimblob]

Networks use several layers of addressing to send packets to where they're meant to be.

For LANs the addresses are MAC addresses, hardwired into each network card on the lan. A SWITCH creates a table of these addresses for each port and when a packet arrives, the SWITCH checks the destination MAC address and forwards the packet to the correct port.

Routers, in general, operate on a higher addressing layer called the IP layer. Each machine or network on the planet has an IP address. Routers also have IP addresses. There are several levels of router on the internet from a home user's ADSL router up to the backbone routers which direct traffic between countries. They operate in a similar fashion to switches but on the IP address of the destination instead of MAC address.

In terms of which one to use...A router is required for internet connectivity with the outside world. A switch is used only for LANs.

That explaination is overly simplified but you didn't specify what you wanted to use them for. They would both work well as a doorstop....

[OBonio]

I'd give that 3 stars....