What is difference between Cisco Router and Switch?

Routers and switchers are both computer networking devices. Before knowing the difference between router and switch one should know what is the meaning of router and switch?

The two main essential equipments a person or an organization will need to build an office network are switches and routers. Although they both connect devices and they look similar too but both the two devices play various and separate functions within a network.

What is a switch?

Switches are used to connect several devices such as printers, computers, and servers together within a network or a small building and help in sharing resources. Moreover, it is mainly used in Local Area Network. Through switch these attached devices can share informations regardless of where they are placed such as campus or building. This sharing of information could not have been possible without switches which connect devices together.

What is a router?

There is not much difference between router and switch, a switch connects multiple devices to create a network where else a router connects devices across multiple network or connect multiple switches to form an even larger network. Router is used in both LAM and WAN.

If an individual needs to access the internet over multiple users or to connect multiple networks together router is used in the case. The connection could occur in a single location or across multiple locations. One of the common examples of switch is cyber cafe or computer labs in college, school or universities where all the computers are attached with the main server computer.

Eventually, a router will take your information and connect you to the world, moreover safeguard your information from threats and will choose the best device or route send your information in form of packets to reach the destination across the world.

Moving on to the main topic, the difference between router and switch is given below:

The above given flowchart describes how devices are connected through Router and Switch in networking. A router provides the simplest and easiest path to packet to achieve its destination.

In the above flowchart, a router is connected to two switches i.e. switch 1 and switch 2 followed by both switches connected to different hub, hub A and hub B respectively. At last the hubs are connected to system nodes. These are the graphical representation of how router and switch are connected to other devices.

The router works in network layer, whereas the switch works in data link layer.

Routers – The working of router is done on a L3 device which functions on the network layer of OSI model. It connects atleast two minimum switches or devices and the network devices are recognized with the help of their IP addresses. As routers are used in LAN and WAN both so they are used to connect a local network with other local network or with other wide area network. It is placed where two or more networks are easily connected such as a mail carrier or for instances it is used in home networks where several devices are connected to a single network like wifi.

Switch – It is a L2 device which functions on the data link layer (layer3) of OSI model. For identifying network devices switch uses MAC addresses or physical addresses to frames for establishing communication. Only in Local Area Networks switch are used. For understanding switch the best example is when a computer or laptop is connected to other devices such as printer, keyboard, mouse and serves.