Planning what goes where is something crucial when it comes to networking. You can always upgrade or re-do residential networks, but enterprise ones are a different case. One of the major points of confusion will be between the router and the switch. Though routers and switches have similarities, many key differences matter when it comes to networking. We will go through those differences in this guide.
What is a Router?
A router is a network equipment that routes traffic between two different networks, such as a local Wi-Fi network and the Internet. It is also responsible for assigning IP addresses to devices on a network. These IP addresses are used to direct traffic to different devices. The most common use of a router is to connect your Wi-Fi network to the Internet so that all devices on your local network will have Internet access. However, in multiple instances, routers may handle additional responsibilities as well.
How a Router Works
A router uses multiple technologies to ensure that requests from one device get to another device on other networks or within the same network. Because these devices operate at the Network Layer of the OSI model, routers can easily identify networks based on the IP address.
Routers use routing tables to understand where each device is. So, when you try to open a website on your laptop browser, the Wi-Fi router will check the routing table and direct the request to the Internet. Similarly, when there is a response from the Internet, the routing table will be used to identify the source device.
Multiple transmissions of this kind happen within seconds on a network router. However, as I said, routers can do more than routing data.
Types of Routers
Based on the requirements and environment, you need different types of routers.
Wired vs. Wireless Routers
You can find wired network routers in enterprise environments, as they are designed to deliver best-in-class performance, reliability, and speed. These routers can offer seamless connectivity to multiple devices in an office or an entire building. Wireless routers are more common and affordable. Also called Wi-Fi routers, these devices create a wireless network that is often connected to the Internet.
Edge Routers vs. Core Routers
Edge routers are placed on the edge of a network, connecting it to another network. In many cases, it could be an internal network of your business and the Internet. However, compared to residential Wi-Fi routers, edge routers are capable of tasks like NAT, VPN, and firewall. Core routers, on the other hand, are optimized for enhanced performance and large-scale environments, such as ISPs and data centers, together.
Virtual Routers
As you can guess, virtual routers are not physical devices. Instead, they are powered by software and do the same tasks, such as forwarding the IP packet and data protocol. These routers are used on virtual machines that run on platforms like Azure and AWS. Compared to physical routers, virtual routers are cost-effective and more scalable. Virtual routers are becoming more used in cloud-based environments and data centers.
What is a Switch?
A switch is a network equipment that can connect multiple devices on the same network. For instance, if you have multiple computers, servers, scanners, printers, etc., a switch can connect them together. Because its entire operation is within the local network, the major objective is to direct traffic to the corresponding devices whenever the data enters the network. Unlike a router, a switch will use MAC addresses, which are unique to devices, to identify devices and forward data accordingly.
How a Switch Works
A network switch operates on the Data Layer of the OSI model and is used to expand the network. So, when a switch receives an incoming request, it needs to verify the source MAC address. It then uses a MAC address table to forward the request (frame) to forward traffic to the correct destination.
However, depending on the situation, a network switch will flood or filter the frame. For instance, it would flood a frame if the frame is intended for multiple addresses. On the other hand, the switch will filter a frame if the source and destination MAC addresses are on the same device.
In this way, a network switch will reduce unnecessary traffic within a network. More importantly, it ensures smooth data handover between multiple devices.
Types of Network Switches
Depending on the situation and requirements, you may need these types of network switches.
Managed vs. Unmanaged Switches
Managed network switches require configuration from the user’s side. They can use a web interface or the command-line interface to access the features and configure options. Unmanaged switches, on the other hand, offer a plug-and-play experience. It means you can expect the best performance right after a minimal setup process.
Layer 2 vs. Layer 3 Switches
Layer 2 network switches operate at the Data Link Layer and are designed to offer a low-cost experience. They are easy to maintain as well. However, Layer 3 network switches will work in two layers: Layer 2 and Layer 3. These switches take over some functions from the router, such as IP routing and managing the MAC address table.
PoE (Power over Ethernet) Switches
Power over Ethernet switches are like other types of Ethernet switches, but they carry electrical power in addition to data. These are great when you want to connect devices like security cameras, IoT sensors, Wi-Fi access points, and IP phones. These switches can help you get rid of individual power adaptors for multiple devices.
Modular vs. Fixed-Configuration Switches
Modular switches give you the option to expand the number and types of ports via modules. These are great when you have a growing network with multiple needs. Fixed-configuration switches, however, come with a limited set of ports and functionalities. You cannot easily upgrade these switches, but the initial costs are lower.
Router vs. Switch: 8 Key Differences
Now that you have a semi-technical understanding of router and switch equipment, we shall look at the key differences in networking.
#1 Primary Function
The primary function of a router is to connect different networks, such as a WAN and a LAN. In most cases, the Internet is a wide area network. A residential Wi-Fi router is the best example.
A switch, on the other hand, is designed to connect multiple devices within a LAN. The key objective of the switch is to enable seamless data transfer between these devices.
#2 Modes of Transmission
A router handles data transmission through packets. When the router receives data packets, it will be sent to the corresponding IP address based on the routing table.
On the other hand, network switches use a frame-based transmission method. The switch can get Ethernet frames from different sources and forward/filter/flood them accordingly.
#3 Operational OSI Model Layers
On the Operational OSI model, a router stays on Layer 3, which is called the Network Layer.
A network switch operates on Layer 2 of the OSI model, also known as the Data Layer.
#4 Addressing Method
Because a router needs to forward data, it uses IP addresses and a routing table to address requests. On the other hand, network switches use MAC addresses as the device identifier.
#5 Network Types
Routers are designed to connect two different devices—WAN and LAN—together. In most cases, routers are made to bring Internet access to an existing network. A network switch, on the other hand, is used within a LAN.
#6 Differences in Ports
Routers typically have a variety of ports, including WAN, LAN, and console ports. As a result, routers can be used to bring internet access to multiple devices. Switches, on the other hand, normally come with Ethernet ports, but they will likely have native support for VLAN.
#7 Bandwidth Usage
A router takes care of bandwidth management at a multi-network level. In typical instances, a router needs to manage how bandwidth is used between the local network and the Internet. A switch has the core task of optimizing bandwidth consumption within a network to avoid wastage and conflicts.
#8 Network Speed
The network speed of a router depends on multiple factors, such as the ISP’s service and the device’s routing efficiency. However, these days, you can easily find multi-gigabit routers on the market.
However, switches are made for low-latency situations that demand the best performance. So, the typical network speed from a switch is upwards of 1Gpbs, reaching up to 100Gbps.
Similarities Between Routers and Switches
Despite their many differences, routers and switches have some similarities as well.
- Network Communication: Both routers and switches are used for network communication. Both are somewhat necessary in enterprise environments.
- Security Features: Though their capacities vary, routers and switches can handle network security as well. On routers, these are firewalls, and switches take care of VLANs.
- Routers with Built-in Switches: You can now easily find routers that work as switches as well. That is, you can use a single device to route traffic and manage frames efficiently.
Despite these differences, a router and a switch cannot replace each other. Or, you need to go for hybrid devices. However, hybrid devices tend to reduce the control we have on the network, which is not great if you are concerned about dedicated security.
Choosing the Right Device for Your Network
I will now share some insights on when to use a switch and when to go for a router.
When to Use a Switch
You should use a switch when you want to expand connectivity within a Local Area Network while boosting performance and reliability. Advanced switches are great for business spaces that need to manage too many devices and requests every single minute.
When to Use a Router
You should use a router if you want the LAN to connect to another network. It could be another LAN or the Internet. Routers are thus great when you want internet access on multiple devices at your home or office. Wi-Fi routers are quite popular these days.
When to Use Both
Many instances, such as enterprise networks and datacenter environments, need routers and switches that work hand in hand. While the router handles the traffic between two devices, a switch will ensure efficient data transfer within the local area network.
Conclusion
As far as home networks are concerned, I always recommend a high-end router or a hybrid device. But, when you plan a network for an office or a home office, you cannot be too careful. It means investing as much as you can on dedicated network switches and powerful routers. You understand at this point that you cannot replace a router with a switch or vice versa.
