Switches vs. Routers: What You Must Know About These Networking Devices

When your employees require the Internet and need to share information and resources, your business needs a network so that everyone in your company stays connected and customers, and has access to important applications that run online Cisco router series.

To make this possible, you will need two devices to connect computers and peripherals to the Internet. These two devices are switches and routers. With the help of these devices, computers within the network can talk to each other and with other networks as well. Though both of them look very similar to each other, they are entirely different in their functioning.

In this blog, you will learn:

• What is a switch?
• What is a router?
• What is the difference between switches and routers?
• How do routing and switching help businesses?
• Are Cisco routers and switches good choices?

What is a Switch?

A switch is a network hardware device that helps connect different devices on a network. This high-speed device is designed to receive incoming data packets and then redirect them to their destination devices on a network. You can think of a network switch as a traffic cop that handles a simple local area network. The switching process helps set the trajectory of data packets and decide how data moves between the groups of devices in the same network.

Types of Switches

Switches are available in two types: unmanaged and managed. While an unmanaged switch doesn’t allow you to make changes, a managed switch is a more sophisticated device that can be programmed and monitored. A managed switch can be adjusted locally or remotely, giving you both control and flexibility. You can see unmanaged switches in home-based networks and managed switches usually in business environments.

What is a Router?

A router is a network hardware device that looks similar to a network switch but is designed to forward data packets between computer networks instead of within a computer network. It allows you to connect two or more networks or sub-networks and helps manage the traffic between these networks by forwarding data packets to their destination IP addresses. Plus, a router also allows multiple devices to use the same Internet connection.

A router acts as a dispatcher and chooses the best route for data packets to travel so that it is received at the destination device quickly. It analyzes the data packet being sent, modifies how it is packaged, and sends it to the intended network. While a switch allows you to connect your employees within the same building or office, a router allows your business to connect to the outside world. It can even determine which device gets priority over others.

Types of Routers

Routers are categorized into five types depending on their applications, namely:

• Wired routers: Use separate cables to connect to one or more devices within the network, create a LAN, and then link the devices to the Internet
• Wireless routers: Help create WLANs and connect multiple devices using wireless communication
• Core routers: Operate at the core of the network, don’t communicate with external networks, and are used by large-scale businesses to transmit a high volume of data
• Edge routers: Communicate with core routers as well as external networks and exist at the edge of a network
• VPN routers: These are virtual routers (software-based) and work as standard hardware router

What is the difference between Switches and Routers?

Several differences can help you better understand the role of routing and switching in your business network.

Switches vs. Routers

• Switches use packet switching to receive, process, and forward data packets and allow information sharing within the same network and resource allocation. But routing allows computers to connect through the Internet and hence, helps share information between different networks.

• Switches operate at the Layer 2, which is also known as the Data Link Layer. However, routers operate at the Layer 3, also called Network Layer.

• Switches determine where to send a data packet by using Layer 2 addresses, i.e. MAC address. On the other hand, routers identify where to send a data packet by using IP addresses.

• A switch is designed to maintain a table of MAC addresses and what physical switch port they are connected to. A router maintains a Routing Table to determine the route of the network.

Note: Since information is transferred within and between networks via routing and switching, these devices also become the primary target of hacking and information leaking. Thus, you need to strengthen your network security to protect these devices.

How do Routing and Switching help businesses?

Switches and routers act as the controlling devices that make business communications much easier and more flexible. These devices can help your business in the following ways:

• Provide your employees with access to business applications that require Internet
• Allow your employees to share information and resources, and hence improve their productivity
• Allow even remote employees to have equal access to your business applications, information, and tools
• Help enable advanced services such as IP Voice, videoconferencing, and wireless networks
• Provide greater visibility into real-time business information and guide the decision-making process
• Help enhance your customer service by improving instant responsiveness and giving instant access to customer information
• Save a huge amount of money by allowing your employees to share resources
• Provide access to high-speed Internet
• Can minimize risk if these devices are equipped with the latest features like a built-in firewall and intrusion prevention system

Are Cisco Routers and Switches good choices?

The quality, durability, and functionality of routers and switches can vary depending on the brand Cisco router series. At present, Cisco routers and switches are considered the best as they are designed with quality in mind and are built to last. Cisco has been the market share leader for a long time now when it comes to networking devices like switches and routers. The Cisco router series comes with advanced functionality and security features and is the first choice of all kinds of businesses regardless of their size.

If you are interested in buying Cisco routers and switches or have any queries regarding these networking devices,