glagic

what is the difference between the 2? is one easier to use and/or offer more protection?

Tommy Boomfiger

generally a switch is easier to use and a router is more secure. check out this thread (whats the difference between a hub and a router?) for more details

TERRIBLETOM

I use a router with cable Internet and if your worried about security make sure it has a built in fire wall and in my opinion don't go wireless.

Jeffbx

You're comparing apples to oranges. Routers & switches are two totally different pieces of hardware - read up on it in this thread. (Sharing cable connection without router)

smurphy

Look at this if you want some more info.

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/

I have been using the Linksys BEFSR41 for almost 6 months and it is a very good product. It was eay to setup and is very fast. The Linksys is a firewall product with stateful packet inspection. I have used Dlink routers which are also good but they use NAT (Network Address Translation) and are not as secure. The site above can explain the main differences better and they have good reviews.

Cheers,
Scott Murphy

bachviet

Router is easier to set up for sharing internet connection. You don't need another NIC and the host computer doesn't have to be ON all the time.

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kain9i6

Don't most routers use NAT? Isn't that how you are able to connect more than one computer using a single internet connection, without purchasing extra IP addresses!?!? and how is that not as secure!? I know D-Links suck (i own one, but it's not in use), but as far as I know, the Linksys I have uses nat as well (in fact, I know it does)..

Not a flame, just an honest question.


And just to answer the original poster's question.. I would get a router with built in switch.. that way you get the best of both worlds and since you probably aren't going to run any brain busting things using home internet, would be the most cost effective if you were going to run a home network as well..

I say get the router with switch as opposed to the rotuer with hubs.. that way you can get equal amt of data sent rather than sharing your 10/100 up/downstream to the other computers..

Note, just because it says 10/100 doesn't mean you'll get that to your internet connection. Most routers only have a 10Mbit wan port (you won't use that much anyways unless you got fiber).. and I know I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but I just wanted to state the obvious so I can look cool =0)

smurphy

I agree with you that most routers use NAT. The linksys does too but you can set it up to be a firewall using SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) which actually reads the packets to verify that they can go through the router by matching the addresses and ports. You can verify this by going to Linksys site and reading the User Manual in PDF format, select it on the right side menu or the second link should download it for you.

http://www.linksys.com/Products/prod...rid=23&prid=20

ftp://ftp.linksys.com/pdf/befsr11_befsr41ug.pdf

NAT is good but with SPI enabled you are adding a better layer of security that the Dlink and others don't have. I believe the latest fireware automatically enables this feature by default with no option to remove to correct a bug in the Linksys router (can't remember exactly).

Cheers,
Scott Murphy

glagic

does a switch have to be run off an extra computer?

kain9i6

Gotcha.. My apologies if my post seemed aggressive, as that was not my intention.. Thank you for the insight, and now I will be looking into my Linksys for the SPI feature =0)

Does the wireless router have that as well? (I just ordered one for use with my laptop)

smurphy

All friends here and no offense or anything taken...we are here to learn and spread whatever knowledge we have. I believe all Linksys routers do but I have not checked the specs for the wireless gear yet.

Cheers,
Scott Murphy

glagic

how about a switch that is just by itself and not embedded into a router? how does that work? we're college studetns and are going to be needing enough ports for 6 people. anyone help me out?

Bires

It worked fine for me (see Tommy's thread link) but it doesn't work often. Basically, adding a switch to my cable modem split the bandwidth between three computers, and each was given its own IP address.

But, like I said...this wasn't *supposed* to work...it just did. I ended up getting a router because file sharing on my network while being connected to my ISP (charter) was way slow.

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rajatQ2

Thats fine. In my apartment, we have 5 computers. I have a 1-port router (linksys BEFSR11), with 3 individual switches spread around the apartment on different floors so everyone can connect w/o having to buy a 4000 foot cable.


The router can assign up to 254 different IP addresses, and switches do not need an IP address. Think of a switch as one of those adapters for electricity, where you plug it into the wall, with one plug, and you can plug 3 devices into it.

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Tommy Boomfiger

if you are getting broadband yourself from a provider and not through your college or dorm they may limit the number of computers that are hooked up to this connection by the number of ip addresses. so if you get a switch there will be 8 different ip addresses and that wont be allowed. if you use a router, you will be using just one ip addy and assigning internal ip's for every computer.

the best bet would be to use a router, but if you choose to use a switch make sure there are no such limits on usage.