Difference Between Hub and Switch

Hub and switch are two important terms used in computer networks when sharing the Internet. Both are Ethernet devices that connect devices on Ethernet together, however there are still many differences between these two devices. The main difference between hub and switch is that in hub the more users get less average bandwidth per user as each user share the same bandwidth in switches though there are more users but each user has their own dedicated bandwidth, so all users still maintain a high transfer rate.

What is Hub?

Hub, Ethernet hub, repeater hub, or simply hub is a network device used to connect multiple Ethernet devices together and treat them as a single network segment. It contains several input/output (I/O) ports, in which a signal inputted into an input and the reaming is used as an output. It works at the physical layer (layer 1) of the OSI model (Open Systems Interconnection model). Repeater hubs are also used in networks to send a jamming signal to all ports if it detects a collision. In addition to the standard 8P8C ports (8 position and 8 contact),

What is Switch?

A switch, network switch, switching hub, or MAC bridge is a computer network device used to connect devices together on a computer network, with the use of packet switching to receive, process, and forward data to connected devices. It is more advanced than simple network hubs in that it sends data to only one or more connected devices that are required to receive it, instead of transmitting the same data from each of its ports. We can simply say that there are more users on the switch but each has their own dedicated bandwidth, so all users still maintain a high transfer rate.

1. Hubs are network devices that operate at physical layer 1 to connect network devices for communication, while switches send data to the data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI model.
2. The hub has 4/12 ports, while the switch is a multiport bridge that has 24/48 ports.
3. Hub is a passive device (without software) while Switch is an active device (with software) and network device.
4. In the hub, data transmission is done by electrical signals or bits. In the switch, data transmission is done through frame (switch L2) frame and packet (switch L3).
5. Hubs always perform frame flooding; can be unicast, multicast, or broadcast while first broadcast is changed; then unicast and multicast as needed.
6. The hub cannot learn or store the MAC address while the switch stores MAC addresses in a lookup table.
7. Sun Systems, Oracle, and Cisco are the hub manufacturers, while Cisco and D-link Juniper are the switch manufacturers.
8. On the hub the more users results in the lower average bandwidth per user as each user shares the same bandwidth while on the switches even though there are more users but each user has their own dedicated bandwidth , so all users maintain a high transfer rate.