Hub, Switch, and Router
What are the differences between HUB, SWITCH, and ROUTER? Hub: A hub is a basic networking device that operates at the physical layer (Layer 1) of the OSI model. It is essentially a multi-port repeater, meaning it broadcasts data received on one port to all other ports. Hubs are simple and inexpensive but have significant limitations. They can lead to network congestion and reduced performance because all devices connected to a hub share the available bandwidth. Switch: A switch operates at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model. Unlike a hub, a switch is more intelligent and selectively forwards data only to the specific device it is intended for. This reduces network congestion and improves efficiency. Switches build and maintain a MAC address table to keep track of the devices connected to each port, allowing them to make more informed forwarding decisions. Switches are widely used in modern networks for local area network (LAN) connections. Router: A router ...