Router vs Switch

Routers and switches are both computer networking devices. They allow one or more computers
to be connected to other computers, networked devices, or to other networks.

However, the functions of a hub, switch and router are quite different, even if at times they are
integrated into a single device. Routers connect two or more logical subnets, which do not
necessarily map one-to-one to the physical interfaces of the router. The term layer 3 switch often
is used interchangeably with router, but switch is really a general term without a rigorous
technical definition. In marketing usage, it is generally optimized for Ethernet LAN interfaces
and may not have other physical interface types.

Comparison chart

Router Switch
NAT (Network Switches can Not perform
Can Perform NAT
Address Translation): NAT
Take more time for
Routing Decision: Take faster Routing Decision complicated routing
Decision
Bandwidth sharing is Dynamic (Enables
If speed of switch is 10/100
either static or dynamic bandwidth sharing
Mbps then bandwidth of
Bandwidth sharing: for modular cable interfaces. The default
each and every one of its
percent-value is 0. The percent-value range
ports gets 10/100 Mbps.
is 1-96.)
Speed: 1-10 Mbps(Wireless) 100 Mbps (Wired) 10/100Mbps, 1Gbps
Used in
LAN . WAN LAN
(LAN/MAN/WAN):
Store MAC address in
Store IP address in Routing table and
Table: lookup table and maintain
maintain address at its own.
address at its own
Address used for data
Uses IP address Uses MAC address
tramsmission:
Data Transmission Frame (L2 Switch) Frame &
Packet
form: Packet (L3 switch)
Network switches operate at
Technical Routers operate at Layer 3 (Network) of the
layer two (Data Link Layer)
Specifications: OSI model.
of the OSI model.
Device Type: internetworking device networking device
Data Link Layer Network
Layer: Network Layer
Layer
Ports: 2/4/8 8/16/24/48
 Router Switch
Connecting two or more
Used for: Connecting Two or more networks.
nodes.
Starts from 2500/-Rs (L2)
Price: 20,000 /- Rs (appx.)
15,000/- Rs (L3) (appx.)
Alcatel's OmniSwitch 9000;
Linksys WRT54GL Juniper MX & EX
Latest Models: Cisco Catalyst switch 4500
series Cisco 3900,2900,1900
and 6500(10 Gbps),
Priority rt range On/Off
Firewall VPN Dynamic hadling of
Features: setting of port VLAN Port
Bandwidth
mirroring
In a LAN environment L3
In a different network environment (MAN/ switch is faster than Router
Faster:
WAN) Router is faster than L3 Switch. (built in switchning
hardware)

Function of a router vs. switch

A router is a more sophisticated device than a switch. Traditional routers are designed to join
multiple area networks (LANs and WANs). Routers serve as intermediate destinations for
network traffic. They receive TCP/IP packets, look inside each packet to identify the source and
target IP addresses, then forward these packets as needed to ensure the data reaches its final
destination.

A network switch is a small hardware device that joins multiple computers together within one
local area network (LAN). Switches are incapable of joining multiple networks or sharing an
Internet connection. A home network with a switch must designate one computer as the gateway
to the Internet, and that device must possess two network adapters for sharing, one for the home
LAN and one for the Internet WAN. With a router, all home computers connect to the router
equally, and it performs the equivalent gateway functions.

Router vs. Switch for wireless networks

Routers can connect wired or wireless (WiFi) networks. A switch is used for wired networking
connections.

Intelligence in a router vs. switch

Routers are more sophisticated devices that can have software to increase network throughput
using techniques such as caching.