Many offices and workplaces these days have an IT network to serve the needs of the business. These networks can be set up using a range of hardware and software and while most employees will be used to working with network devices such as PCs and printers they will most likely be less aware of hardware such as routers and switches. However these are typically integral parts of an IT network and are commonly used pieces of hardware.
While in many cases people can use the terms interchangeably, routers and switches actually have different purposes in a network. A switch basically serves as a central connection point for all the devices on a single network and can have computers, printers, scanners and other IT accessories connected to it. The switch typically has a record of the Media Access Control (MAC) address of each device in a network. This is a unique identifying address for each PC, printer and other accessory and this enables the switch to pass data, known as frames, around a network. By knowing the unique address of each device the switch ensures that the information it receives is passed on to the correct device.
The task of a router on the other hand is to pass data between different networks. This data is generally known as a packet and contains both the data being passed and the address of its destination. A router is typically connected to two or more networks and is capable of working out the best way to pass information between these to get it to its destination. One of the reasons why the terms for routers and switches are interchangeable these days is that many routers are multi-function devices that can undertake a number of tasks. While they work primarily as a router they can also serve the function of a switch. This can help to reduce the amount of hardware in a network as the router and switch are combined into a single unit.
Routers and switches are commonly found on the market these days and individual devices or a combined unit can be found for sale at a few locations. Computer accessory stores are the best location to find the widest variety of options. CompUSA, for example, has routers available from Cisco and Trendnet as well as switches from Netgear and Cisco. The price will depend on the sophistication of the device. A simple 5-Port Network Switch from Netgear can be purchased for around $25 and this is suitable for a small office with only a few IT devices. A Cisco RV016 16-Port 10/100 VPN Router on the other hand costs around $450. This is an internet sharing router network device that can serve the needs of small to medium size businesses.
Routers and switches are common features of IT networks and are needed to effectively pass information around the devices in a single network or between different networks. There are a range of options available for including these in a network and whether you are setting up a small or large network they are integral pieces of hardware that are typically required.