Networking - Miscellaneous - Switch vs Router

Switch and router are both network devices used for connecting devices within a network, but they serve different purposes and operate at different layers of the network. 

Switch:

• Operates at the data link layer (Layer 2) and sometimes at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model.
• Connects multiple devices within a local network, such as computers, servers, printers, and other network devices.
• Uses MAC addresses to forward data packets between devices within the same network (LAN).
• Provides high-speed data transfer within the network and supports Ethernet and VLAN technologies.
• Helps create a single broadcast domain, allowing broadcast traffic to be forwarded only to the necessary devices.
• Enables efficient communication by switching data packets directly between the sender and receiver without involving other devices.
• Does not perform network routing or connect different networks together.
• Commonly used in home networks, small to medium-sized businesses, and data centers for local network connectivity.

Router:

• Operates at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model.
• Connects multiple networks together, such as LANs, WANs, or the Internet.
• Routes data packets between networks based on IP addresses.
• Uses routing tables and protocols (such as OSPF, BGP, or RIP) to determine the best path for packet forwarding.
• Provides network segmentation, traffic control, and security features.
• Performs Network Address Translation (NAT) to allow multiple devices to share a single public IP address.
• Supports dynamic routing protocols to exchange routing information with other routers.
• Can implement firewall rules and access control policies for network security.
• Commonly used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs), large organizations, and enterprise networks to connect different networks and enable communication between them.