An Ethernet hub vs switch comparison would precisely explain what is the difference between these two networking devices. That is exactly what you will find in this article.
Have you ever wondered how the vast network of the Internet, connecting billions of computers worldwide, manages to be orderly, without steeping into chaos? It is an achievement of computer networking engineers and scientists who cleverly designed this network to be automated and established protocols for communication between machines, which made this possible. Besides the hardware constructs, what makes disciplined data traffic possible are the networking devices. It is through devices like Ethernet hubs, switches and routers, that unhindered data traffic is made possible. The aim of this article is to present an Ethernet hub vs switch comparison, which underlines the fundamental differences in the working of these devices.
What is the Difference Between Ethernet Hub and Switch?
Before I start explaining what is the difference between hub and switch, I assume that you are familiar with the basics of Ethernet and you have a rough idea about the OSI model, which forms the theoretical foundation on which a computer network is understood and designed. If you have no idea about it, check out the article which has OSI model explained. In the following lines, you will find Ethernet hub compared to switch. This will be followed by a comparison of their features and applications.
Ethernet Hub vs Switch: Basic Differences
Let us define what is meant by an Ethernet hub and a switch before we scrutinize the differences in their functioning. An Ethernet hub connects computers in a network segment together and facilitates data transfer within the network.
When a hub receives a data packet, it transmits the packet to all the devices or computers that are connected to it. Only the computer or device which was supposed to receive the packet, accepts it. The whole hub connected network functions as a half duplex, as any device cannot transmit and receive at the same time.
There is no selectivity in the destination for the data packet in a hub. They are simply broadcasters or repeaters of the data, which they receive. Ethernet hubs are operational at the first layer (physical layer) in the OSI model.
A switch is a more evolved version of a hub. They are mainly operational at the networking layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model. However, switches can function at multiple layers too. Instead of transmitting data packets to every device on network, switches are smarter devices that directly link the nodes that are sharing the data. This means that simultaneous data transfer between multiple nodes is possible. You might also want to check out the router vs switch vs hub vs bridge comparison, to get a much clearer picture about things.
Ethernet Hub vs Switch: Features
Hubs can make a computer network sluggish because of the half duplex transmission and the extra load of data transmitted to multiple devices. More the data traffic between the nodes in a network, slower the transmission becomes. However, a switch carries out data transmission faster as it directly hooks up the nodes that are part of the network.
This makes simultaneous data transfer possible between multiple nodes; achieving high transmission speed and less of lag. Hence switches are used to manage data traffic on networks, which are high in complexity. Among an Ethernet hub and a switch of the same bandwidth, a switch offers faster data transmission. Hubs cost considerably lesser than switches, which are more advanced devices.
After reading through this Ethernet hub vs switch comparison, most of your doubts regarding the functioning of these devices should have been cleared. Both Ethernet hubs and switches make intranetwork traffic possible, but they differ in the sense that both are at different positions in the technological evolution tree. As we saw above, a switch is an improvement over a hub and it reduces data transfer time, while making optimum use of bandwidth. For small networks, a switch is often an overkill and hubs are preferred. However, for large networks, there is no alternative to network switches!
What is the Difference Between Ethernet Hub and Switch?
Before I start explaining what is the difference between hub and switch, I assume that you are familiar with the basics of Ethernet and you have a rough idea about the OSI model, which forms the theoretical foundation on which a computer network is understood and designed. If you have no idea about it, check out the article which has OSI model explained. In the following lines, you will find Ethernet hub compared to switch. This will be followed by a comparison of their features and applications.
Ethernet Hub vs Switch: Basic Differences
Let us define what is meant by an Ethernet hub and a switch before we scrutinize the differences in their functioning. An Ethernet hub connects computers in a network segment together and facilitates data transfer within the network.
When a hub receives a data packet, it transmits the packet to all the devices or computers that are connected to it. Only the computer or device which was supposed to receive the packet, accepts it. The whole hub connected network functions as a half duplex, as any device cannot transmit and receive at the same time.
There is no selectivity in the destination for the data packet in a hub. They are simply broadcasters or repeaters of the data, which they receive. Ethernet hubs are operational at the first layer (physical layer) in the OSI model.
A switch is a more evolved version of a hub. They are mainly operational at the networking layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model. However, switches can function at multiple layers too. Instead of transmitting data packets to every device on network, switches are smarter devices that directly link the nodes that are sharing the data. This means that simultaneous data transfer between multiple nodes is possible. You might also want to check out the router vs switch vs hub vs bridge comparison, to get a much clearer picture about things.
Ethernet Hub vs Switch: Features
Hubs can make a computer network sluggish because of the half duplex transmission and the extra load of data transmitted to multiple devices. More the data traffic between the nodes in a network, slower the transmission becomes. However, a switch carries out data transmission faster as it directly hooks up the nodes that are part of the network.
This makes simultaneous data transfer possible between multiple nodes; achieving high transmission speed and less of lag. Hence switches are used to manage data traffic on networks, which are high in complexity. Among an Ethernet hub and a switch of the same bandwidth, a switch offers faster data transmission. Hubs cost considerably lesser than switches, which are more advanced devices.
After reading through this Ethernet hub vs switch comparison, most of your doubts regarding the functioning of these devices should have been cleared. Both Ethernet hubs and switches make intranetwork traffic possible, but they differ in the sense that both are at different positions in the technological evolution tree. As we saw above, a switch is an improvement over a hub and it reduces data transfer time, while making optimum use of bandwidth. For small networks, a switch is often an overkill and hubs are preferred. However, for large networks, there is no alternative to network switches!
| By Gray Pilgrim |
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