Hubs & Switches

Today the world is all about better connectivity or communication. However, these advanced modes of communication and network are much supported by technology. To ease the ways of connection and communication, experts keep introducing new gadgets and devices. Network hubs and network switches are one such mandatory technological advance of this era.

Often used interchangeably, the network switches and hubs are different from each other. A hub is a networking device that helps a user to connect multiple PCs with a single network. These hubs consist of different materials, including Firewire, Ethernet, and USB connections. While on the other hand, a switch is a control unit that works differently. A network switch is responsible for turning the flow of electricity (on and off) in a circuit. At times it also works to route the information patterns for streaming electronic data sent over a specific network.  Concerning hubs, the switches are meant to connect network segments to the computer devices.

Understanding the differences between network hubs and switches

Hubs, switches and routers are the connecting bridges for making a complete network. All these devices are different from each other but perform somewhat the same functions. This is the reason why we can find technicians using these terms interchangeably. On the other hand, this is why a common and non-technical person often gets confused between the two.  When connecting these devices is much easier, the selection of the right type is a challenge. Considering the wide seen confusion, we are here to clear the fog. Here we will discuss some important features of the Hubs and switches to help you understand the two networking devices. With this understanding, you can easily differentiate and prefer one over others according to your need.

Understanding a network hub

A network hub is a device that connects multiple computers in a LAN (Local Area Network). All the information sent to the hub is then processed through each port and delivered to every device on the network. Hubs are not able to differentiate one computer from another. This is why they receive information on one port and then blindly send it to all ports within the network. In such cases, there is no segregation of if the information was intended for those computers or not. To understand, let’s assume you have a total of five computers connected even though you may want to send information to one of these. A hub will deliver information to all five computers hence leaving no privacy.

Understanding a network switch

A network switch is responsible for connecting multiple computers via LAN. After the first data transfer, a network switch creates “A Switch Table.” This table matches ports to connect certain specific devices with the help of their MAC addresses. Opposite to hubs, the switches can segregate between computers. The switches memorise the path they follow for the first time. All the later data processing is done following those footsteps. The network switches are multi-port network bridges that come with the media access control addresses. Some switches can also forward data at the network layer while incorporating the routing functionalities.

Understanding the difference between hubs & managed Switches

Technically speaking, a hub works on the physical layer named “Layer 1” of the OSI model. While a switch works on the data link layer known as “Layer 2”. This is why a switch works more efficiently than a hub. A switch can join multiple computer devices within a single LAN. On the other hand, a hub connects multiple Ethernet devices to make a single segment. Another difference is that a switch is smarter than a hub when determining the target or forwarding information packets. As the switches have higher performance with effective results, these are a bit more expensive than hubs.

Hubs & Switches – The performance differences

Considering the advancement in technology and users’ preferences, a switch has more effective performance than a hub. People prefer using a switch at home if they have more than one computer connected to a single network. Here switches help to generate a significant amount of traffic. This amount of traffic is mostly required for applications like multiplayer games or heavy file sharing. Technically speaking, a hub operates using a broadcast model while a switch operates using a virtual circuit. Functionally when hubs pass the data to all computers in a specific network, the switches deliver the information selectively. Hence by generating targeted traffic, switches work better than hubs.