- #1
peevemagpie
- 10
- 2
Sorry for the stupid question but I already forgot or a bit confused. When do I use a switch, and when do I use a router? Thanks!
There's a hub:peevemagpie said:Is there something other than a router ... switch?
peevemagpie said:So question then, when it comes to a home network and you need to connect multiple devices what should I use to do that without using the signal strength, or is this even possible (the signal strength part at least)?
enorbet said:Actually it can be rather important to "mess with the router"...
If you weren't granted access to their computers or able to use their ISP's delivered IP address, how could you log on their router to change its settings ? External IP after passed through the modem router will be NATted, right ?enorbet said:...
By default most routers come with the same default password by brand which should be changed to a unique password immediately...
A switch is used to connect devices within a local network, such as computers, printers, and servers. It allows these devices to communicate with each other using MAC addresses. Therefore, a switch is best used when you need to connect multiple devices within a small network.
A router is used to connect different networks, such as a home network to the internet. It directs traffic between these networks using IP addresses. Thus, a router is more appropriate when you need to connect networks that use different protocols, such as the internet and a local network.
Yes, you can use a switch and a router together in a network setup. A switch is typically connected to a router, and the router is then connected to the internet. This allows for efficient communication within the local network and access to the internet.
A switch operates at the data link layer of the OSI model, while a router operates at the network layer. This means that a switch uses MAC addresses to direct traffic within a network, while a router uses IP addresses to direct traffic between networks. Additionally, a router can perform network address translation (NAT), which allows multiple devices to share a single IP address, while a switch cannot.
While a switch and a router have different functions, there are some situations where they can be used interchangeably. For example, if you have a small network with only a few devices, a router can be used instead of a switch. However, using a switch in this scenario would provide better performance and network management capabilities.