What is the Hub in Networking? Hub vs. Switch

Device

Hub

Bridge

Switch

Router

Wireless Access Point

Repeater

Network Layer

1 (Physical)

2 (Data)

2 (Data) or 3 (Network)

3 (Network)

1 (Physical) or 2 (Data)

1 (Physical) ,2 (Data) or 3 (Network)

Device

Hub

Switch

Layer

Physical layer. Hubs are classified as Layer 1 devices per the OSI model.

Data Link Layer. Network switches operate at Layer 2 of the OSI model.

Function

To connect a network of personal computers together, they can be joined through a central hub.

Allow to connect multiple device and port can be manage, VLAN can create security also can apply

Data Transmission form

Electrical signal or bits

Frame (L2 Switch) Frame & Packet (L3 switch)

Transmission Type

Hubs always perform frame flooding; may be unicast, multicast or broadcast

First broadcast; then unicast & multicast as needed.

Ports

4/12 ports

Switch is multi-port Bridge. 24/48 ports

Device Type

Passive Device (Without Software)

Active Device (With Software) & Networking device

Used in (LAN, MAN, WAN)

LAN

LAN

Table

A network hub cannot learn or store MAC address.

Switches use content accessible memory CAM table which is typically accessed by ASIC (Application Specific integrated chips).

Transmission Mode

Half duplex

Half/Full duplex

Broadcast Domain

Hub has one Broadcast Domain.

Switch has one broadcast domain [unless VLAN implemented]

Definition

An electronic device that connects many network devices together so that devices can exchange data

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

Speed

10Mbps

10/100 Mbps - 1 Gbps

Address used for data transmission

Uses MAC address

Uses MAC address

Device Category

Not Intelligent Device

Intelligent Device

Collisions

Collisions occur commonly in setups using hubs.

No collisions occur in a full-duplex switch.

Spanning-Tree

No Spanning-Tree

Many Spanning-tree Possible