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

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I don't make any hardware recommendations, other than what I've actually used or recommend here: http://pugetsoundsoftware.com/recommend.html - in this case I can't tell if the device supports NAT, which is key to the security of sharing an internet connection.

Leo

You can share an internet connection on a network without using a router, by having a piece of software called a 'proxy' installed on the computer connected to the internet. You basically point all your other computers at the internet-connected computer. I do this at home using Analogx Proxy. http://www.analogx.com

You have to be careful to secure the proxy to the internal network only otherwise you end up with what's called an 'open proxy'. This is where any random person on the internet can use your proxy. Any bad things they do will appear like your computer did them.

I also use port forwarding. Which allows me to have another computer (my linux box) as a webserver. Port forwarding forwards port 80 (used for webpage connections) down my network. It's completely transparent.

With this proxy method. it does mean you have to keep the internet-connected-computer on most of the time. And using port forwarding I end up having two computers on all the time.

Hi I have 2 computers and was going to go buy a hub. I have a cable connection. I really dont care about security and my main concern is keeping speed and the money spent for a hub. If a hub is going to slow down the connection i was going to pick up a router but i am cheap and want to know for sure if a hub will be ok. What are the disadvantages of a hub?

The cheapest hub is going to send anything coming in one connection out to all the others. So if your two computers are talking to each other, all that data will also get sent up the cable connection, possibly slowing down you internet access. If you really, REALLY, don't care about security, then I'd get an inexpensive switch which will at least prevent the unwarrented traffic on the cable. It's possible that this might also be packaged as a "smart hub" (further confusing the terminology, I know).

Good luck!

Leo

I'm doing an assignment based on the differences between Hubs, Routers and Switches. I need to know what is the many differences there are and your site helps me in understanding the basic knowledge of them.
But i need to know more about the differences. Is there any way you can simplify them like how you did in your site. I seem to understand your words clearer than the rest of the sites. It definately helps me a great deal. Thanks!

A very good resource for that kind of research is the site "How Stuff Works" (http://ask-leo.com/d-hsw ). Very informative, and very readable.

Thanks!

Leo

Hi Leo, and have a question for you: My friends have a network in his house, the components are: a switch, Modem DSL, and 3 computers. He connected all the device to the Switch, and all the computer have internet, I thinked that He has a router (NAT support - single IP) instead of a switch, How all the computers could have internet in that network?, thanks for help :).

Well, I think you're right, either his switch is providing NAT & DHCP, or his ISP is allowing multiple IPs to be assigned down the single connection. It's easy to tell ... if the machines all have private IP addresses (probably 192.something), then it's probably the switch. If they each have their own "real" internet address, then the ISP is being generous.

Leo

Leo,

I have a problem /w my hub. I have a 12 port hub and Im using it for xbox system link games /w my friends and ftp stuff to my xbox and streaming movies in it. Everything was fine in a few months and it slowed down my internet cable connection. Streaming movies to my xbox was hell coz the movies stutters sometimes it does not play at all.

My internet connection is ok but with my hub it slowing everything down. I did everything and still ends up slow. Is my hub down to it's last breath? It just 2 months old and now it slowing everything down. Please help! Thanks in advance.

If it's truly a hub, it could be clogging your internet connection with local traffic uneccessarily. I'd be really tempted to replace it with a switch. Slowdown kind of problems are rare - failures tend to be more catastrophic (though of course it's possible, just rare.)

Leo

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