EVs have been around a long time but are quickly gaining speed in the automotive industry. Learn how the long-coming and inevitable shift to electric impacts you.
Whether you want to build your own home theater or just learn more about TVs, displays, projectors, and more, we've got you covered. Dell Networking Switches
Get tech's top stories in 30 seconds:
How network switches compare to hubs and routers
A network switch is a small device that centralizes communications among several connected devices in one local area network (LAN).
Stand-alone Ethernet switch devices were commonly used on home networks many years before home broadband routers became popular. Modern home routers integrate Ethernet switches directly into the unit as one of their core functions.
High-performance network switches are still widely used in corporate networks and data centers. Network switches are sometimes referred to as switching hubs, bridging hubs, or MAC bridges.
Ethernet switches are the most common type, but you'll also find switches optimized for ATM, Fibre Channel, and Token Ring network architectures.
Mainstream Ethernet switches like those inside broadband routers support Gigabit Ethernet speeds per individual link, but high-performance switches like those in data centers usually support 10 Gbps per link.
Different models of network switches support varying numbers of connected devices. Consumer-grade network switches provide either four or eight connections for Ethernet devices, while corporate switches typically support between 32 and 128 connections.
Switches also connect to each other, a daisy-chaining method, to add a progressively larger number of devices to a LAN.
Basic network switches like those used in consumer routers require no special configuration beyond plugging in cables and power.
Compared to these unmanaged switches, high-end devices used on enterprise networks support a range of advanced features designed to be controlled by a professional administrator. Popular features of managed switches include SNMP monitoring, link aggregation, and QoS support.
Traditionally, managed switches are built to be controlled from Unix-style command line interfaces. A newer category of managed switches called smart switches, targeted at entry-level and midrange enterprise networks, support web-based interfaces similar to a home router.
A network switch physically resembles a network hub. Unlike hubs, network switches are capable of inspecting incoming messages as they are received and directing them to a specific communications port—a technology called packet switching.
A switch determines the source and destination addresses of each packet and forwards data only to the specific devices, while hubs transmit the packets to every port except the one that received the traffic. It works this way to conserve bandwidth and improve performance compared to hubs.
Switches also resemble routers. While they both centralize local device connections, only routers contain support for interfacing to outside networks, either local networks or the internet. Since a network switch doesn't use a public IP address, it can only forward data between devices.
Conventional network switches operate at Layer 2 of the OSI model. Layer 3 switches that blend the internal hardware logic of switches and routers into a hybrid device also have been deployed on some enterprise networks.
Compared to traditional switches, Layer 3 switches provide better support for virtual LAN configurations.
A KVM switch is a piece of hardware that allows you to control multiple computers using a single monitor and keyboard. You can also add additional monitors and keyboards to your setup.
Some virtual private networks (VPNs) have a software kill switch that automatically disables internet access when you disconnect. This feature ensures your IP address and other personal data are never exposed.
Yes, but not enough to make a noticeable difference. Just as longer cables add a little latency, extra switches also add a negligible amount of latency. If your internet connection is slow, it has nothing to do with the switches if everything is properly connected.
Prices range drastically from under $40 to over $500 depending primarily on the number of ports and extra features. For a 20-port network switch, you can expect to pay $150-$250.
Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day
Hit Refresh on Your Tech News
Layer 3 Switch By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.