What is a network switch?

A network switch connects devices in a network to each other, enabling them to talk by exchanging

data packets. Switches can be hardware devices that manage physical networks or software-based

virtual devices.

A network switch operates on the data-link layer, or Layer 2, of the Open Systems Interconnection

(OSI) model. In a local area network (LAN) using Ethernet, a network switch determines where to

send each incoming message frame by looking at the media access control (MAC) address. Switches

maintain tables that match each MAC address to the port receiving the MAC address.

Why are network switches valuable?

Switches are responsible for relaying information between different endpoints and offer a plethora of benefits:

 Switches form the majority of network devices in modern data networks and carry huge amounts of traffic

in telecommunications provider networks.

 They offer full-duplex communication, connect network segments, boost network performance and make

effective use of available bandwidth.

 Switches provide the wired connections to desktop computers, wireless access points (APs), printers,

industrial machinery and some internet of things (IoT) devices, such as card entry systems.

 They connect the computers that host virtual machines (VMs) in data centers, as well as physical servers and

much of the storage infrastructure.

 Most modern switches employ the Power over Ethernet technology, which can deliver up to 100 watts of

power to support the connectivity of network devices. This enables businesses to set up equipment like

outdoor lighting, security cameras, voice over IP phones and various kinds of sensors for monitoring remote

areas in locations where a separate power source is not necessary.

 Data from IoT devices can be collected by a network switch and used by artificial intelligence and machine

learning algorithms to optimize smarter surroundings.

How does a network switch work?

All switches transmit data from one location to another, but their hardware and software configurations can vary

greatly. A network switch can be deployed in the following ways:

 Edge, or access, switches. These switches manage traffic either coming into or exiting the network.

Devices like computers and APs connect to edge switches.

 Aggregation, or distribution, switches. These switches are placed within an optional middle layer in a

network topology. Edge switches connect into these and send traffic from switch to switch or send it up to

core switches.

 Core switches. These network switches form the backbone of the network. Core switches connect

aggregation or edge switches, users or device edge networks to data center networks and enterprise LANs to

routers.

A data frame is flooded to all ports in the switching domain if it is forwarded to a MAC address that the switch

infrastructure is not familiar with. Data frames for multicast and broadcast are also flooded. This is known

as broadcast, unknown unicast and multicast flooding. This capability makes a switch a Layer 2 device in the

OSI communications model.

Many data centers adopt a spine-leaf architecture, which eliminates the aggregation layer. In this

design, servers and storage connect to leaf switches (edge switches). Every leaf switch connects into

two or more spine (core) switches. This reduces the number of hops data takes to get from source to

destination, therefore reducing latency.

Some data centers establish a fabric or mesh network design that makes every device appear to be

on a single, large switch. This approach reduces latency to its minimum. High-demanding applications

that use high-performance computing (HPC) often use this approach.

For small business and home networking, network switches provide the benefit of additional Ethernet

ports for connecting to Gigabit Ethernet.

Not all networks use switches, however. A network might be organized in a token ring or connected via

a bus, hub or repeater. In these networks, every network-connected device sees all traffic and reads the traffic

addressed to it. A network can also be established by directly connecting computers to one another without a

separate layer of network devices. This approach is mostly for HPC, which requires sub-5-microsecond

latencies and is quite complex to design, wire and manage.

What are the types of switches?

There are several types of switches in networking:

 Virtual switches are software-only switches instantiated inside VM hosting environments.

 Routing switches connect LANs. In addition to doing MAC-based Layer 2 switching, they perform routing

functions at OSI Layer 3 (network layer), directing traffic based on the IP address in each packet.

 Managed switches let a user adjust each port on the switch. This enables monitoring and configuration

changes.

 Unmanaged switches enable Ethernet devices to pass data automatically using autonegotiation, which

determines parameters such as data rate. The configuration is fixed and cannot be edited.

 Smart switches can be configured to enable more control over data transmissions, but they have more

limitations compared to managed switches. Smart switches are also known as partially managed switches.

 Stackable switches are fixed switches that may be connected to one another via a backplane cable interface

to form a single logical switch from two or more physical switches.

 Modular switches are switch cards for modular or chassis-based switches and can be inserted into a sizable,

fixed-form factor chassis that can accommodate two or more cards. Since switch interfaces can be changed

as needed, this kind of switch gives the greatest flexibility and upgradeability.

What are different uses of network switches?

A switch plays a crucial role in delivering internet connectivity and network communication across a network.

The following are the various use cases of network switches:

 By automating link connections, which removes manual and time-consuming settings, network switches

provide effective connectivity, speed and ease of use among network devices.

 Switches help with building a more reliable and secure network as they provide some level of control over

how data is transferred.

 Network switches are required when separate network devices need to be connected using a physical

connection as they have several ports in the front. Usually, those ports are RJ-45 ports for Ethernet cables;

however, the number of ports can vary.

 Switches can also operate in full-duplex mode, which enables simultaneous data transmission and reception

across the network. Compared to hubs, which only enable half-duplex mode, switches practically quadruple

the network's speed.

 Network switches are helpful for home networks and scenarios where high-powered streaming services are

used regularly. They are especially beneficial if one needs a reliable way to stream or play 4K video.

 Since network switches maintain a list of the distinct MAC addresses of every device connected to them,

most of the network communication is only routed to the intended destination and not broadcast to all

connected devices. This reduces collisions and eliminates broadcast domains in a network.

Network switch vs. router

Network switches can be easily confused with routers. However, they have different functions and operate on

separate layers.

Here are the main differences between a switch and a router:

 A network switch is a Layer 2 device on the OSI model. A router is primarily a Layer 3 device.

 A router moves data between two or more computer networks, while a switch facilitates the sharing of

resources by connecting multiple devices on a single LAN.

 To determine the route and destination of a packet, a router examines the IP addresses of packets. A switch

looks at the MAC address of each device to transfer data to the correct destination.

 Routers use data packets, whereas switches, which are part of the data-link layer, typically work with data

frames.

 A switch is less sophisticated than a router because, unlike a router, a switch doesn't use routing algorithms

to direct data around large networks.

 Routers can work within both wired and Wi-Fi networks, but a switch is restricted to wired network

connections.

 A router offers network address translation, NetFlow and quality of service, while a switch offers none of

these services.

Network switch vs. hub

 Here are the main differences between a switch and a hub:

 While a network switch is a Layer 2 device on the OSI model, a hub is a Layer 1 physical device.

 A hub is relatively simple compared to a network switch because, unlike a switch, it doesn't keep track of

the addresses of the computers it transfers traffic to.

 The goal of a hub is to connect all the nodes in a network, whereas an Ethernet switch connects all the

network devices together and transfers data packets between those devices.

 Because a hub can't manage data going in and out of it as a network switch can, there are a lot of

communication collisions.

 Switches prevent collisions by buffering Ethernet frames, but hubs cannot prevent collisions as the devices

are connected on a single transmission stream.

What is a Router?
A router in a computer network is a device connecting two or more networks or subnetworks that are
packet-switched. These are networking devices functioning at layer 3 or a network layer of the OSI
paradigm.

The principal function of a router in networking is to manage traffic between these networks. It does
so by forwarding data packets to their respective IP addresses and allowing numerous devices to use
the same internet connection.

A network devices router receives, analyzes, and forwards data packets between computer networks.
When a data packet arrives, the router consults its routing tables to determine the best route, after
inspecting the destination address, and then forwards the packet down that path.

There are various types of routers. However, the majority of routers transfer data between WANs
(wide area networks) and LANs (local area networks). A single router in networking is often required
for a LAN. By contrast, a WAN is scattered over a vast area and often demands many routers and
switches.

Uses of a Router

A router in a computer network is used for the following purposes:

 To ensure that data is flowing to the right destination, users send the emails to the correct recipient.
 Routers defend against unwanted data, such as when an enormous file is delivered to each
workstation on the network, and also increase network performance.
 The router in networking acts as a buffer between the modem and the network and allows software
protection to reduce the danger of viruses and other malware.
 To share information with other routers connected to the network.
 Routers perform the primary role of segregating the internet network from an internal network in the
residential area or business.
 Dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) allows the IP addresses of each computer that is joined
to the network. Most routers are enabled with DHCP protocol over the internet that is utilized for small
home and office networks.
 Routers give protection from intruders and malicious users via the internal networks and are identified
through the internet along with firewall firmware and software.
 Routers also help many users to share resources like faxes, scanners, printers, and file folders on the
discs located remotely.

The Architecture of a Router

Given below is a diagram that explains the architecture of a router in a computer network:

A Router in Networking Architecture

Source
The following are several variables that contribute to the successful operation of a router:

Input Port
The input port can perform the physical layer operation of terminating an incoming physical link to a
router. It carries out the data link layer functionality required to communicate with the data link layer
functionality on the opposite side of the incoming link.

The input port also conducts a lookup and forwarding function, ensuring that a datagram forwarded
into the router’s switching fabric arrives at the correct output port.

Output Port
The output port stores packets from the switching fabric and sends them to the incoming link by
executing link-layer and physical-layer functions. As a result, the output port serves the same reverse
data link and physical layer functions as the input port.

Switching Fabric
It is a mix of hardware and software that sends data from a network node to the next node in the
network via the correct port.

Routing Processor
Routing processors carry out routing protocols. It stores routing information as well as forwarding
tables. It also handles network administration within the router.

Types of Routers

Routers are of the following types:

Wireless Routers
A wireless router gives Wi-Fi connectivity to Wi-Fi devices such as laptops and smartphones. They
can also provide normal Ethernet routing. Indoor connections have a range of 150 feet, while outdoor
connections have a range of 300 feet.

Broadband Routers
A broadband router is used to connect to the Internet by telephone and to provide high-speed internet
access via voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.

Core Routers
A core router can route data packets within a certain network but cannot route the packets between
networks. They assist in connecting all devices within a network, forming the network’s backbone.

Edge Routers
The most common forms of Edge Routers are low-capacity routers located at the network’s
peripherals. An edge router connects the internal network to the external networks and can send data
packets across networks. They employ the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) for connectivity. There
are two types of edge routers: label edge routers and subscriber edge routers.

Brouters
These are specialized routers that can also perform bridge functions. Brouters, like bridges, aid in
data transit between networks. And, like a router, they route data among network devices.