What is the Difference Between Switches, Routers, and Hubs?

I get asked this question a lot: What is the difference between switches, routers, and hubs. This article aims to answer that question.

Hubs, switches and routers are all pieces of equipment that allow you to connect multiple computers together. They can also connect computers to networked devices and other networks. Hubs, switches, and routers are devices that make that connection possible.

A hub is the least complicated device of the three. Hubs allow anything that comes in one port to be sent out through the others. It is a quick and easy way for small networks to connect computers. Hubs see everything that all the other computers in the network see.

A switch is more efficient than a hub. It does essentially the same thing as a hub, but it can learn where addresses are. If a computer is connected to port 3, for example, then the computer knows that all traffic to that computer only needs to be sent through port 3 and not the others.

A router is the most advanced of the trio. Routers are the most popular choice for computers because they are able to route data best. They come in a variety of styles and sizes depending on their use.

Routers are what most people use for their Internet. Wireless routers are very popular right now. Routers can protect your computer best, unlike a hub.

Routers are programmed to understand and route a high amount of data, and are equipped to handle it. Routers can be programmed to protect and hide computers behind a firewall. They also come with a complete programming language of how they need to operate to communicate with the other routers.

The functions of a router, hub, and a switch are very distinct from one another. A hub ties together an Ethernet network segment, a switch connects multiple segments and does it more efficiently than the hub, and the router does all of these functions plus more. While they can sometimes be integrated into a single device because of their similarities, they are each distinct in their purposes.

 

What Is a Wireless Networking Adapter?

When internet users were confined to a desktop computer, it was no more hassle to plug in your internet cord than it was to plug in the rest of your computer.  With increasing portability and advancing technologies, however, something had to be done.  After all, what good was a laptop if you still had to be plugged in order to use it?

Rather than be chained to the wall through an internet cable, internet users now have the option of working completely cable-free.  This is possible through the use of a wireless networking adapter.  An adapter allows you to work over the internet just exactly as it sounds: completely wire-free.

How Does it Work? Each wireless networking adapter contains a built-in radio transmitter and receiver.  This transmitter allows your computer to join a wireless LAN.

What Kind Should I Use?
There are two types of wireless network adapters: the PCI and the USB.  Both are dependent upon what type of computer system you use.

PCI wireless adapters are designed for the traditional desktop computer.  These are add-in cards made specifically to fit inside your computer.  Yours should have a PCI bus, or place-holder for the card to go.

USB wireless adapters are external rather than internal. They connect to the USB port outside your computer, like where you would plug in your flash drive or other USB-compatible devise. These types of adapters work ideally with laptops.

Built-in wireless networking may also be an option.  This is a feature found in many newly manufactured laptops.  In such cases, small chips inside your computer already act as the network adapter, requiring no further installation.

Before deciding on purchasing a wireless networking adapter, check first to see if your computer already has one.  Rather than rummaging around in your hardware, the easiest way is to click on the Start button and check your network connections.  You can also do this by clicking on the tiny set of computers next to the volume and time on your toolbar.

 

The Need to Switch From Dial Up to Wireless

Wireless networks are very important. There are changes being made across the globe to incorporate wireless networking adapters. The reason? They are the new advancement in technology.

Wireless Internet is much more convenient to people than wired systems. There are increases everyday in the demands on the Internet. Having wireless Internet services there are much more opportunities to work on projects both in the office, at home, or even at hot spots that have wireless networking adapters.

Having your own wireless system can be convenient because you do not have to rely on other people. You don’t have to worry about being bumped off the Internet because there are too many users. This is a fairly common problem with dial-up services.

Wireless systems also are easier to connect to the Internet with. Other Internet services take a long time to connect. Dial up services could be interrupted if someone accidentally picked up the phone line, or sometimes even when someone tried to call you. This tended to be very frustrating to those trying to use the Internet.

In the past you needed to have a telephone line set up in your home and connected to your computer. That is not the case with wireless systems. That is a nice option for people who do not have telephone services in their home, or who choose to do all their phone conversations through their cell phones.

In the past, before wireless networking adapters, you needed to have a phone line for each computer. If you had more than one computer you needed to have multiple phone lines for the computers you wanted connected to the Internet. This got to be quite expensive and a big hassle to customers.

Wireless Internet services also are more reliable than dial-up services. Dial-up services have a reputation for being difficult when trying to download items, open picture attachments, or streaming video or audio files. Wireless services have a much quicker speed and allow you to surf the net much easier.

Wireless systems also allow you to get on the Internet whenever you want to. You do not have to worry about clogging up your phone line if you need to be on the Internet. If you haven’t already tried it out, give wireless networking adapters and routers a chance. You will be pleasantly surprised.