Switch vs Router

[xtremcoder]

Someone explain. A co-worker and I were talking about this over lunch and he seems to have a different idea that what I think a switch is.

[01WhiteCobra]

Switch works at Layer 2 (Datalink) and uses MAC addresses.
Router works at Layer 3 (Network) and uses IP, IPX, etc.

Algorithms on how to forward packets are different, for example how broadcasts are handled.

[White_lightning]

switch: interconnects computers locally into a single collision or broadcast domain(depending on how its hooked up). It can be isolated from the outside worlds and is normaly associated with a " lan"
router: routers traffic between networks. uses Routing as well as routed protocols to determine where the destination is.

basically. you use a switch to connect PCs together to make a Local network.. and you use a router to connect mulitple "Lan's" over the internet or "Wan"

[01WhiteCobra]

[QUOTE=White_lightning]switch: interconnects computers locally into a single collision or broadcast domain(depending on how its hooked up). It can be isolated from the outside worlds and is normaly associated with a " lan"
router: routers traffic between networks. uses Routing as well as routed protocols to determine where the destination is.

basically. you use a switch to connect PCs together to make a Local network.. and you use a router to connect mulitple "Lan's" over the internet or "Wan"[/QUOTE]


Switches have many collision domains and one broadcast domain.

Another way to think of it is routers need to find specific networks, switches need to find specific devices.

[White_lightning]

[QUOTE=01WhiteCobra]Switches have many collision domains and one broadcast domain.[/quote]


not true.. if that was true.. why use Vlans?:) vlans make multiple Broadcast domains on the same switch.

[01WhiteCobra]

[QUOTE=White_lightning]not true.. if that was true.. why use Vlans?:) vlans make multiple Broadcast domains on the same switch.[/QUOTE]

collision domains and broadcast domains are two separate things, foo.

[White_lightning]

[QUOTE=01WhiteCobra]collision domains and broadcast domains are two separate things, foo.[/QUOTE]
agreed.
when you segment by Vlan.. you are creating a new broadcast domain.
if you broadcast to Vlan 1.. Vlan 2's ports dont see it..

[AbecX]

lol at the overnerdizness..


Switch = Dumb packet transfer
Router = Smart packet transfer.

[01WhiteCobra]

[QUOTE=AbecX]Switch = Dumb packet transfer
Router = Smart packet transfer.[/QUOTE]

wrong answer

[ceyko]

[QUOTE=01WhiteCobra]wrong answer[/QUOTE]


heh, yup...technically.

[White_lightning]

[QUOTE=AbecX]lol at the overnerdizness..


Switch = Dumb packet transfer
Router = Smart packet transfer.[/QUOTE]
what about a layer 3 switch:) i guess thats dumb too?:)

[Blue88Coupe]

[QUOTE=AbecX]lol at the overnerdizness..


Switch = Dumb packet transfer
Router = Smart packet transfer.[/QUOTE]

lmao "overnerdyness" from abex.

and thats gotta be the worst explanation ever.

[White_lightning]

[QUOTE=01WhiteCobra]Actually... a layer 3 switch is considered a "dumb router". :D[/QUOTE]
yeah.. but its pretty smart for a switch.. :)

[White_lightning]

Grand pa! what happend to your post:)????

[AbecX]

Once again, I'm right, you guys just arent looking at all the facts. The name of the guy that asked the question is 'xtremcoder', he's not looking for something overly technical as he just wants to prove his point to his 'leet' coworker.

[White_lightning]

[QUOTE=AbecX]Once again, I'm right, you guys just arent looking at all the facts. The name of the guy that asked the question is 'xtremcoder', he's not looking for something overly technical as he just wants to prove his point to his 'leet' coworker.[/QUOTE]
maybe 31337 h4x0r was taken?:)

[01WhiteCobra]

[QUOTE=White_lightning]yeah.. but its pretty smart for a switch.. :)[/QUOTE]

I was going to expand on why I consider it a "dumb router" (and why a switch at layer 2 cannot be compared to a router), but then I realized it was almost time for my old man nap and didn't want to type.