You want to create a network for the computers in the office, but you don’t know what to choose – a hub or a switch. Hub vs. switch, they both look similar (a box with Ethernet ports) and have the same purpose, to connect multiple computers in a network, but they are far from equal. Here we will explain you the difference and help you make the right choice for your office.
Hub
A hub, as the name suggests, is a connection point for varies computers. It creates a network based on Ethernet. There are variations based on USB and Firewire too.
This device does not manage the traffic intelligently. It broadcast the data to all of the connected computers. Because of the way it works, more bandwidth is used and occasionally packet collisions occur.
Switch
The switch is a smart network device. In contrast to the hub, it reviews the packets of data and directs them just to the right one. It does that by remembering the MAC addresses of the connected gadgets. The switch can support different common network types like 802.11, Ethernet, Fibre and more. It is newer in comparison with the hub, and it more common in the modern offices.
Hub vs. switch
Now, let’s get more concrete. With this table of comparison, you will know why people prefer the switch.
| Hub | Switch | |
| Purpose | To connect multiple computers in a personal network | To manage a network between multiple devices smartly |
| Layer (OSI model) | Layer 1, the physical layer | Layer 2 usually, but some more sophisticated switches can perform additional features and use Layer 3, 4 or 7 too. |
| Transmission type | Frame flooding, unicast, multicast or broadcast | First broadcast, then unicast and/or milticast depends on the need |
| Transmission mode | Half duplex | Half and full duplex |
| Ports | Usually between 4 and 24 | Usually between 4 and 48 |
| MAC addresses | Can´t remember any | Remember MAC addresses and saves them in a Content Addressable Memories (CAM) |
| Device type | Not an intelligent device | Intelligent device |
| Speed | 10 Mbps | 10/100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps |
| Software | Does not use software | Has software for administration |
Conclusion
And now, the final answer of “Hub vs. switch”.
Depends a lot on your budget. If you are searching for the cheapest option out there, or maybe you have an old big hub lying somewhere you could still use it. It can be a solution for a small network of computers that are not connected to the Internet.
In any other case, chose a switch. It is smarter, more secure and it can manage a larger group of connected devices.
Hi, I’m Martin Pramatarov. I have two degrees, a Technician of Computer Networks and an MBA (Master of Business Administration). My passion is storytelling, but I can’t hide my nerdish side too. I never forgot my interest in the Hi-tech world. I have 10 years and thousands of articles written about DNS, cloud services, hosting, domain names, cryptocurrencies, hardware, software, AI, and everything in between. I have seen the Digital revolution, the Big migration to the cloud, and I am eager to write about all the exciting new tech trends in the following years. AI and Big Data are here already, and they will completely change the world!
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