Router Vs Hub for PC Network?

Question

Should i use a router or a hub to network together my two desktop pc's? I want to file share, printer share, and internet share between both. Also I don't want it to be wireless I want it to be hard wired. So which would be the best fit, and if possible what brand and model should i pick!?

Answer 1

A hub is nothing more than a box that physically parallels Ethernet cables together. There is no firmware or involved. Because of this, a Hub makes your connection1/2 duplex, you can send, or receive, but not at the same time. There is no collision avoidance, so packets that collide are lost and must be resent. All this slows you down and is why hubs are obsolete.

The British will call a switch a hub - I think just to confuse the rest of us.

A switch is the hardware device that replaced the Hub. A switch is used to connect computers to a network. The switch reads the header on a packet and switches it to the correct machine. It has no controlling functions.

A router is a smart switch. The router controls the network, assigning IP addresses to the machines on it's LAN side. The router receives messages from the WAN (Internet) side and routes them to the correct machine. A message from the LAN side is sent out to the Internet with the computer address of the WAN side added to the packet header. This function, call NAT or Network Address Translation, allows multiple machines to use one Internet connection.

So you need a router to allow multiple machines to access the internet. Which one? Stick with a major brand - D-link, Netgear, Belkin, Linksys. If you don't need wireless, you can get a simple wired model and save a few bucks. Unless your computers have G-Bit Ethernet cards (or you plan to upgrade them) don't bother with the extra cost of a G-Bit router. A 10/100 Mbs will do fine as no Internet connection ever gets close to 100 Mbs

Answer 2

Hubs are not a viable choice for you. A 4 Port Switch divides the LAN connection 4 ways. If you have a 1 Gig capacity LAN, then each port gets 1 Gig. A Hub would divide the signal and each port would get 1/4 Gig.

A router from your ISP may have 4 Ports. If this is the case use them. If you want to connect the two PC's into an Work Group LAN, then use a Switch, the switch connects to the Router and the PC's connect to the switch. Switches are fairly cheap now a days.

Cheers

Answer 3

Nowadays they don't really make Hubs anymore, it is Switches or Routers. If you are using DSL or Cable i'd recommend getting a Wired-only internet Router, the Router firewalls your LAN and they usually have a 4 port switch built in, even if you don't want to use it as a Router you can still use it as a Switch.

JeanR

http://www.tech-defense.com