What's the difference between a Hub, a Switch and a Router?

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Any inexpensive broadband router should do. I'm partial to Linksys myself.

One major distinction needs to be made clear: Routers separate different networks. Switches and hubs do not. Switches/hubs simply extend the network that they are already a part of.

This place seems to be exciting? I am using a router Linksys. I have two questions:

1.I have a problem in blocking the unauthorised telephone lines. Can you please suggest how to block the unauthorised tel lines. I have got the single IP from my ISP provider.
2. Does every hub come with uplink port? If not how can i provide internet facilities on four PCs at the same time using two hubs(without uplink port)and a switch?
Waiting for the reply.
Thanks

I have a hub that I bought so I can LAN up my X-Boxes. Is it possible to use it to connect two of my computers to the internet at the same time using that? I hooked the uplink port to my cable modem and my other computers to the hub. I could only get one computer to work at a time. Could it possibly be because of my modem?

Pramit: I don't know what you mean by blocking telephone lines. Most hubs come with an uplink port, but you can also connect two hubs using a special "reversing" network cable between them.

Bender: chances are your ISP is only giving you one IP address, so only one machine will work at a time. Using a router instead of a hub will most likely resolve that problem. This article may help: http://ask-leo.com/why_does_my_home_network_only_work_with_one_computer_at_a_time.html

HUB--is like your extension cord. No intelligence at all.
SWITCH--is like your traffic light. It has some form of intelligence to direct traffic.
Router---It is the combination of both with the highest form of intelligence. It remembers who sent what and where to direct and connect what?

hey, nice site u host!!! im a pc technician and im familiar with all these things.... but just like the others have one question:
i have a router which i use to share my internet connection, can my isp find out that i share the connection thru packet managers or any other software or watever??? or am i safe befind the router.. can u pls write to me on my email... thank u

I would assume that in most cases it's quite possible for someone monitoring your internet connection - like, say, your ISP - to be able to at least make a very educated guess about how many computers you have behind your router. Or at least how many of them communicate on the internet. It would take an understanding of the types of traffic that is common, and examining the packets to identify machine-specific characteristics.

Not common. Not trivial. But possible, I would think.

As you have said, it's quite possible for someone monitoring your internet connection. What if i am using msn to chat with a hacker, will the hacker be able to trace my ip address and hack to my computer? If yes, how do they do that? Can you reply me through my email address?

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