Difference between a hub and a switch
A Hub is a networking device that allows one to connect multiple PCs to a single network. Hubs may be based on Ethernet, Firewire, or USB connections. A switch is a control unit that turns the flow of electricity on or of in a circuit. It may also be used to route information patterns in streaming electronic data sent over networks. In the context of a network, a switch is a computer networking device that connects network segments.
Hub
|
Switch
|
Physical layer. Hubs are classified as Layer 1 devices per the
OSI model.
|
Data Link Layer. Network switches operate at Layer 2 of the OSI
model.
|
Hubs always perform frame flooding; may be unicast, multicast or
broadcast
|
First broadcast; then unicast & multicast as needed.
|
4/12 ports
|
Switch is multi port Bridge. 24/48 ports
|
A network hub cannot learn or store MAC address.
|
A network switch stores MAC addresses in a lookup table.
|
Passive Device (Without Software)
|
Active Device (With Software) & Networking device
|
Half duplex
|
Full duplex
|
Hub has one Broadcast Domain.
|
Switch has one broadcast domain [unless VLAN implemented]
|
LAN
|
LAN
|
Electrical signal or bits
|
Frame (L2 Switch) Frame & Packet (L3 switch)
|
To connect a network of personal computers together, they can be
joined through a central hub.
|
Allow to connect multiple device and port can be manage, Vlan
can create security also can apply
|
Collisions occur commonly in setups using hubs.
|
No collisions occur in a full-duplex switch.
|