Switch vs Router

[df]

i know the diff between a hub and a switch, but everyone theese days talks about routers.. whats the diff between a switch and a router?

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Stuart 'Dark Fiber' George [ FreeBSD 4.1 / BeOS 4.5.2 / Win2K ]
Write Your Own Operating System [FAQ]

[idea_magnate]

Everyone else has probably seen this question too many times to care, but a router provides better protection and allows you to split up one IP address between a bunch of computers. Try doing some research if you want to get one.

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Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Hamlet (I,v,174-5)
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Brother: Everything's plugged in, but it's not working.
Me: Try the power switch.
Brother: Oh.

[PDR60]

A router enables two networks of different subnets to communicate. In othewords, it connects two different wans, or wan to lan, or lan to lan. Most of the posters at this site refer to a router to connect their private lan to the internet ( a public wan). Most folks think that a router like a linksys is needed behind a cable/dsl connection. You can go that route but if you want to save some cash you don't need to. there are cheaper more secure solutions.

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VP6 with dual GIG and loving it

[idea_magnate]

It might help if you mentioned some of those cheaper and more secure solutions. I got my Linksys 4 port BEFSR41 router on eBay for $92 with shipping, although it took a while to get here.

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There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Hamlet (I,v,174-5)
specifications;

• A7M266 Mobo
• T-Bird 1.4 GHz FSB 266 Processor
• Thermaltake Mini Copper Orb CPU fan
• 512 MB PC 2100 Crucial RAM
• CARDEXpert GeForce 2 MX400 32 MB 3d card
• IBM 41 GB 5400 RPM HD
• 40x brand X CDROM
• Win 98

Brother: Everything's plugged in, but it's not working.
Me: Try the power switch.
Brother: Oh.

[bionicman]

Sorry for being so stupid, but how exactly does this better security works.
What makes it more secure than a switch.

[DaRkPhAnToM]

router has a builtin firewall which is better then any software firewall because it makes all computers behind router invisible unless u set it not to.

hope that helped

Mike

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[This message has been edited by DaRkPhAnToM (edited October 07, 2001).]

[MoleDude]

Originally posted by PDR60:
A router enables two networks of different subnets to communicate. In othewords, it connects two different wans, or wan to lan, or lan to lan. Most of the posters at this site refer to a router to connect their private lan to the internet ( a public wan). Most folks think that a router like a linksys is needed behind a cable/dsl connection. You can go that route but if you want to save some cash you don't need to. there are cheaper more secure solutions.

please, elaborate on these cheaper and more secure solutions. cause i know most network admins would recommend a router. but i guess you're smarter than them...so please elaborate.

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Squire of an OC Crusader

Current System Specs

[PDR60]

I use a switch and zonealarm. But you can effectivly harden the tcp/ip stack without using a firewall. My lan cannot be seen form the internet. Its called stealth mode.

Software firwalls are just as good as hardware firewalls if you configure correctly. I have installed many brands of both and some are better than others. The thing to remember is to block all incoming ports. That way only one way communication from your private lan to the outside world is possible. Of course there is always reverse telnet, but not to many people want to go to that much trouble to crack a lan. I deal in the security business every day and it is not that difficult or expensive to secure a home/small office lan.

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VP6 with dual GIG and loving it

[PDR60]

I almost forgot, Not all routers come with firewalls. There are consumer items that combine a so-so firewall with a router but these are for the most part not much better than a zonealarm type firewall.

I hate to say it but real routers don't include a firewall. Cisco, Juniper, and lucent do not include a firewalls they all sell them as extra units.

Basic firewalling can be accomplished by hardening the tcp/ip stack and then running a Nat config. This allong with a software/hardware firewall will keep you secure.

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VP6 with dual GIG and loving it

[bIOHZRd]

Errm, to clarify on one thing...

the Linksys Router/switch is just that, both.. and it enables multiple puters to be hooked onto a single IP, hence NAT (network address translation). A normal router does NOT do this.... they do just as one of the previous posts said... let IP's of different classes/subnets talk to each other.

A switch is a multiport bridge, which essentially allows 100% bandwidth utilization between each and every computer connected to it, since it makes virtual circuits, and doesnt divy the bandwidth out amongst them like a HUB does.

HUB= sux0rs... get a switch

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[MoleDude]

Originally posted by PDR60:
I use a switch and zonealarm. But you can effectivly harden the tcp/ip stack without using a firewall. My lan cannot be seen form the internet. Its called stealth mode.

Software firwalls are just as good as hardware firewalls if you configure correctly. I have installed many brands of both and some are better than others. The thing to remember is to block all incoming ports. That way only one way communication from your private lan to the outside world is possible. Of course there is always reverse telnet, but not to many people want to go to that much trouble to crack a lan. I deal in the security business every day and it is not that difficult or expensive to secure a home/small office lan.

ok, with just a quick look at pricewatch...router firewall 70 bucks. 8 port switch, 30 bucks. and how much is zonealarm?

also...blocking all ports? yeah...then your limited to what you can do, with a router you dont have to block all ports to be completely safe.

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Squire of an OC Crusader

Current System Specs

[BremenCulhaven]

Originally posted by MoleDude:
ok, with just a quick look at pricewatch...router firewall 70 bucks. 8 port switch, 30 bucks. and how much is zonealarm?

also...blocking all ports? yeah...then your limited to what you can do, with a router you dont have to block all ports to be completely safe.

.02

Your only blocking the ports not in use by you. You tell the firewall what programs that have access and stop access to any port not in use. So your not limiting what you can do. A router with NAT has it's own IP address and then each computer that is connected to the router has an IP address but those IPs are not visible only your router IP address is.

BC

[BremenCulhaven]

Originally posted by idea_magnate:
It might help if you mentioned some of those cheaper and more secure solutions. I got my Linksys 4 port BEFSR41 router on eBay for $92 with shipping, although it took a while to get here.

You can get this model at Best Buy for $89.99.

BC

[yngwie98]

Originally posted by MoleDude:
ok, with just a quick look at pricewatch...router firewall 70 bucks. 8 port switch, 30 bucks. and how much is zonealarm?

If you get a Linksys router/firewall, they have an offer now where you can upgrade to ZoneAlarm Pro for free. http://linksys.zonelabs.com/promo.html

I recommend Tiny Personal Fireall instead of ZA. Both programs have free versions, but I've heard ZA is crash prone with more than 4 brower windows open.
Also, visit http://speedguide.net/ for registry patches and http://grc.com/default.htm to test your security.

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