Many people know that switches and routers are both used for Internet access, so what exactly is the difference between them? Take a look at:

     What is a switch

Switch means "switch" and is a kind of network equipment used for electrical (optical) signal forwarding. The most common type of switch is Ethernet switch.

     What is a router

A router is a hardware device that connects two or more networks. It automatically selects and sets the route according to the channel, and sends signals in the best path, in the order before and after. It plays the role of a gateway between networks and is the hub of the interconnection network. At present, routers have been widely used in all walks of life, and various different grades of products have become the mainstay of achieving various internal backbone network connections, inter-backbone network interconnection and backbone network and Internet interconnection services.

One role of the router is to connect different networks, and another role is to select the line of information transmission. The selection of a smooth and fast proximate path can greatly improve the communication speed, reduce the communication load of the network system, save the network system resources, and improve the smooth rate of the network system, thus allowing the network system to play a greater benefit to.

     What is the difference between a switch and a router

The role of a router is to connect different network segments and find the most suitable path for data transmission in the network, so it can be said that in general there is not much demand from individual users. The router is created after the switch, just as the switch is created after the hub, so the router and the switch also have some connection, and are not completely independent of the two devices.

1. A router can automatically assign IP to your LAN, virtual dial-up, just like a traffic police, directing your computer where to go, you don't have to worry so much yourself. The switch is only used to distribute network data.

2, the router is at the network layer, the router is addressed according to IP address, the router can handle TCP/IP protocol, the switch can not, the switch is at the trunk layer, the switch is addressed according to MAC address.

The router can assign an IP to many hosts, and these hosts only show an IP to the outside world; the switch can connect many hosts, and each of these hosts has its own IP to the outside world.

4, the router provides the service of firewall, the switch can not provide the function. Hubs and switches are for port expansion, which is to expand the access point of LAN (usually Ethernet), that is, to allow LAN to connect in more computers. Routers are used to make inter-network connections, that is, to connect different networks.

For example, a router is equivalent to a post office. It delivers a letter to the recipient's address and its job is done. But the letter is mailed to your dormitory building, and this address is not exclusive to you, so the dormitory management is also responsible for the letter to your hands, he does not care about the recipient's address, only the recipient's name, and then an internal phone call to tell you to come to pick up the letter.

All post offices constitute the system of "wide area network", and your dormitory building is the "local area network", which does not need a router to build.