Difference Between Router and Switch

In the sector of networking, routers, and switches are essential devices that play an important role in facilitating conversation inside and between networks. Both devices are crucial for the green and steady transfer of data, but they serve exceptional functions and operate at unique layers of the network structure. Both routers and Switch are the connecting devices in networking. A router is employed to settle on the littlest path for a packet to achieve its destination.

What is a Router?

The router is a networking device that works at the network layer i.e., a third layer of the ISO-OSI model, and is the multiport device. It establishes a simple connection between the networks to provide the data flow between the networks. Router transfers data in the form of packets is used in LAN as well as MAN.

It works on network layer 3 and is used in LANs, MANs, and WANs. It stores IP addresses and maintains addresses on its own.

Working of Router

• Many networked devices, including PCs, tablets, printers, and other items, can be connected to the internet and formed into a network by using a router in a house or workplace.
• In order to facilitate communication between these devices and the internet, a router first links the modem to other devices.
• Data packets with specified IP addresses are routed and transmitted by routers across networks or within networks.
• It accomplishes this by assigning a local IP address to every device connected to the internet; this guarantees the proper destination, preventing data from getting lost in the network.
• Once the optimal and fastest path has been determined, data packets are sent from that path to the networked devices.

Types of Router

1. Wireless Routers

• Since they don't require wires or cables to connect to networking equipment, wireless routers are the most widely used routers in homes and companies.
• With the ID and password, only authorised users can access the network, ensuring a secure connection.
• Any n users within the designated range can access the internet by using a wireless router.

2. Wired Routers

• It needs a wire or cable, as the name implies, in order to connect to the network devices.
• These routers are mostly used to connect PCs to Ethernet cables in small companies or schools.
• It also features a Wi-Fi access point, and VoIP (Voice-over-Internet Protocol) technology allows a mobile phone to be linked to it.

Advantages of Router

• The majority of networking devices can connect to wireless routers at any time without having to worry about a tangle of wires.
• It may establish a connection using any of the several network architectures, including Ethernet, WLAN, and Wi-fi.
• It offers password-protected, extremely secure network access.
• It makes use of the collision function to lessen network traffic.
• With the use of intelligence and the routing table, it delivers data packets to the right place via the most efficient path.

What is a Switch?

It is a point-to-point communication device. Basically, it is a kind of bridge that provides better connections. It is a kind of device that sets up and stops the connections according to the requirements needed at that time. It comes up with many features such as flooding, filtering, and frame transmission.

Working of Switch

• As far as we are aware, every networking device has a distinct Media Access Control (MAC) address.
• An IP packet is sent from one device or computer to another by means of a switch, which encapsulates the IP packet with a frame and its source and destination MAC addresses.
• The frame is stripped when it arrives to the target device, which then receives the IP packets and can only connect to the device that matches the destination MAC address that was entered.

Types of Switches

1. Managed Switches

Because we can simply design managed switches to meet our network perfectly, they offer additional capabilities and are more flexible than unmanaged switches. They are also more secure. As a result, we will be able to exert more control, better safeguard our network, and enhance the quality of service provided to network users.

2. Unmanaged Switch

Basic connection is the primary usage for the unmanaged switches. These are typically found in small networks or locations where a modest number of additional ports are needed, like a conference room, a lab, or a residence. Plugging in is all that is necessary for unmanaged switches to function; no configuration is needed.

Advantages of Switch

• It increases the network's available bandwidth.
• It might have a direct connection to the devices or workstations.
• improves the network's performance.
• Switches reduce frame collisions in networks because they help each network's collision domain to develop.
• It assists in lessening the strain on specific hosts, such PCs
  

The main objective of router is to connect various networks simultaneously and it works in the network layer, whereas the main objective of switch is to connect various devices simultaneously and it works in the data link layer. 

Let us see the difference between router and switch: