In this article, we will show you the process of how to connect the switch to a router using an easy-to-follow, simple procedure.
The recent age of technology has made wireless connectivity devices an indispensable part of modern lives. The most common of these devices found n almost every big and small household and office building is WIFI routers.
WIFI routers are networking devices that are designed for routing data packets via computer networks. That is to say that routers connect between wireless networks and smart gadgets using those networks.
Routers have four Ethernet ports that allow for four devices to be connected, one of which is the internet connection channel provided by the internet service provider (ISP). Network switches are similar to routers in being network devices and using Ethernet ports but have different functioning and different modes.
To know more about the network switch and its working, let us dig deep into its functioning and comparison with the router. We will also go through the networking comparison of the two (Network switch and router) to see which one is better or what happens if both devices are used simultaneously.
How To Connect Switch To Router?
For expanding your networking range, routers need to be connected to the network switch. These switches will enhance the number of available ports, and many more devices can now be hooked up to the router all over the same network.
To connect the network switch to your router, you have to follow the following steps.
Step 1:
Unplug all the power cables, network wires, or any other connectivity wire with the modem and network switch.
Step 2:
Then connect the router or modem to the telephone cable.
Step 3:
Next, Connect the Ethernet cable to the back end of the router on the Ethernet port.
Step 4:
Connect the second end of the Ethernet cable to the WAN port of the router.
Step 5:
Let’s, using another Ethernet cable, connect the LAN port with the network switch.
Step 6:
Now plug the power cables of all three devices. After the power is supplied, to create a network devices will all be connected using a network switch, and the range of connections has been expanded up to the available number of Ethernet ports. These connections will be through the modem to the router and then to the network switch, and finally to the devices.
What Is A Network Switch And How Does It Work?
A network switch is a multiport network bridge that links multiple devices using the same network together. It means that a network switch creates a network web for various devices using the same network as the connection route between all those connected devices.
The network switch is designed to manage the flow of data by transmitting and receiving the data. In simple words, you can say that the network switch will receive data from device 2 that intends to send that data packet to devices 4 and 5.
This received data packet will be transmitted only to those intended devices 4 and 5 through the network switch. The data packet will not be shared between other devices connected to the network switch and only intended devices can receive the data transmitted by the sending device.
How Does A Network Switch Work? & What Does a Network Switch Do?
Network switches make use of the hardware addresses of the device, such as port numbers, to process the data and forward it to linking layers. The linking layer is the second layer of the OSI model that channels network switches; network switches can rarely use the third layer of the OSI model by routing the device’s functioning.
The network switch is compulsory for creating a networking web of different computers and allows them to work smoothly and efficiently. Network switches are available in many different types and shapes to suit the needs of users.
The most commonly used type of network switch is the Ethernet switch which is frequently encountered in multi-computer connections. Ethernet switches are further classified into different types varying on the speed of a connected network.
Gigabyte Ethernet switch is more common with its 1 GBPS speed and offers the lowest possible speed with network switches.
To enhance the networking speed, there are 10 gigabyte Ethernet switches as well as 100 G switches. The range of these network switches is ( Ethernet switches encompassing 1 GBPS, 10 GBPS, 25 GBPS, 40 G, and 100 G Ethernet switches).
As the speed of these Ethernet switches differs, the same goes for the available number of connectivity ports. These ports range from 8 to 48 ports and feature different configuration setups for different ports and speeds.
Router Vs Network Switch – What Is The Difference
The basic similarity between routers and network switches is their networking capability being computer networking devices. Both of these devices are designed for multiple connected computers using one or more networks.
The difference lies in the type of connection. The router is meant to connect different networks in a single device, while the network switch connects different computers over a single network. In other words, a network switch is meant to create a network while the router is meant to connect these created networks.
Another significant difference lies in their ability to make nets. A network switch is only designed to be used in LAN while the routers are capable of being used in all three LAN, WAN, and MAN connections.
Using The Network Switch Together With The Router
If you plan to connect more than four devices using the same network, then a router cannot be used for creating a network this is because the maximum number of devices that a router can connect is less than 4. To expand this connection range through wired means a network switch is a necessity.
There are many network switch available in the market that offers 8, 16, 24, or 32 ports. Depending upon the number of ports, many devices can be connected using the same network that is for an 8-port network switch 8 computers all using network 1 can be connected in a net-over switch.
