What is the difference between a router and a switch?

Router is a WAN device to communicate with other IP based networks. It works on layer 3 of OSI reference model.

Switch is a LAN device used to communicate with computers, printers and other internal devices

• Router connecting two or more networks while switch connecting two or more nodes in the same network or different network. 
• Routers store IP address in Routing table and maintain address at its own, onther hand switch use content accessible memory CAM table. 
• In Router, every port has its own Broadcast domain while Switch has one broadcast domain.

Switch is a Layer 2 device. It uses MAC address. It connects computers in the same network segment. It forms a LAN

Router is a Layer 3 device. It uses IP address. Connects computers located in different network segments. It forms the WAN.

Router is Layer 3 Device who break the broadcast  domain while Switch is layer 2 device which break the collision Domain.

Switch is a layer 2 device and its user MAC address for communication.

Router is a Layer 3 device and its user IP address for communication ; Router will help to communicate between deferent ip segment.

SWITCH IS A LAYER2 DEVICE AND IT WORKS WITH MAC ADDRESS. IT HAS ONE BROADCAST DOMAIN AND MANY COLLISION DOMAIN. IT MAINTAINS CAM TABLE. 

WHERE AS ROUTER IS A LAYER 3 DEVICE, IT WORKS WITH IP ADDRESS AND IT MAINTAINS ROUTING TABLE 

  RouterSwitchUsed for Connecting two or more networks Connecting two or more nodes in the same network or different network Function Directs data in a network. Passes data between home computers, and between computers and the modem. Allow to connect multiple device and port can be manage, Vlan can create security also can apply Used in (LAN, MAN, WAN) LAN, WAN LAN Transmission Type At Initial Level Broadcast then Uni-cast & Multicast First broadcast; then unicast & multicast as needed. Data Transmission form Packet Frame (L2 Switch) Frame & Packet (L3 switch) Layer Network Layer (Layer 3 devices) Data Link Layer. Network switches operate at Layer 2 of the OSI model. Ports 2/4/8 Switch is multi port Bridge. 24/48 ports Device Type Networking device Active Device (With Software) & Networking device Table Store IP address in Routing table and maintain address at its own. Switches use content accessible memory CAM table which is typically accessed by ASIC (Application Specific integrated chips). Transmission Mode Full duplex Half/Full duplex Broadcast Domain In Router, every port has its own Broadcast domain. Switch has one broadcast domain [unless VLAN implemented] Definition A router is a networking device that connects a local network to other local networks. At the Distribution Layer of the network, routers direct traffic and perform other functions critical to efficient network operation. A network switch is a computer networking device that is used to connect many devices together on a computer network. A switch is considered more advanced than a hub because a switch will on send msg to device that needs or request it Device Category Intelligent Device Intelligent Device Bandwidth sharing Bandwidth sharing is Dynamic (Enables either static or dynamic bandwidth sharing for modular cable interfaces. The default percent-value is 0. The percent-value range is 1-96.) There is no sharing port can be 10, 100, 1000 and 10000 Mbps individual Speed 1-10 Mbps (Wireless); 100 Mbps (Wired) 10/100 Mbps, 1 Gbps Routing Decision Take faster routing decisions Take more time for complicated routing decisions NAT (Network Address Translation) Routers can perform NAT Switches cannot perform NAT Faster In a different network environment (MAN/ WAN), a router is faster than an L3 switch. In a LAN environment, an L3 switch is faster than a router (built in switching hardware) Features Firewall VPN Dynamic hadling of Bandwidth Priority rt range On/Off setting of port VLAN Port mirroring Examples Linksys WRT54GL Juniper MX & EX series Cisco 3900, 2900, 1900 Alcatel's OmniSwitch 9000; Cisco Catalyst switch 4500 and 6500 (10 Gbps) Address used for data tramsmission Uses IP address Uses MAC add

A switch does essentially what a hub does, but more efficiently. By paying attention to the traffic that comes across it

switch is layer 2

 

A router is the smartest and most complicated of the bunch. Routers come in all shapes and sizes – from the small, four-port broadband routers that are very popular right now to the large industrial strength devices that drive the internet itself.

Router is layer 3

router stores IP address and switch stores MAC address

router is a layer 3 device and switch is layer 2 device

Switches create a network. Routers connect networks. A router links computers to the Internet, so users can share the connection. A router acts as a dispatcher, choosing the best path for information to travel so it's received quickly.