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Managed switches are now becoming increasingly popular in corporate networks, mainly for connecting computers, printers, servers, etc. in buildings or in universities. However, other network devices, routers are also widely used to connect devices such as computers. So what is the difference between a managed router and switch? Then read this post to find the answer.
What is a managed switch?
Managed switches are configurable network switches that offer greater security, flexibility, and capacity than un managed switches or normal switches. It acts as a controller, which allows network devices to talk to each other more efficiently. As a network switch, will operate on the second floor (Data link layer) of the OSI reference model.
Example of a managed switch
Managed switches are often used to provide the most comprehensive functionality for the network. With a variety of management functions such as VLAN, CLI, SNMP, IP routing, QoS and others, managed switches are often seen at the core layer of the network, especially in large and complex data centers. With the growing demand for the most common network switches, Gigabit Ethernet switches and 10GbE switches are designed as managed switches.
The following is a video related to switches managed by FS. You can read more about the operations and supported functions:
What is a router?
A router is a network device that connects to many local networks and wide area networks on the internet. This allows multiple computers or devices to connect to the internet via a single connection. It transfers data packets between networks to establish and maintain communication between two nodes in the network. In addition, it selects and determines the route automatically according to the conditions of the channel and sends the signal in the most suitable route respectively.
The router works at the third layer. (Network layer) of the OSI model, the router uses the destination IP address in the data packet to determine where to forward the packet. It also manages the flow of information so that each computer receives the information it needs. A router can be used to connect to many networks.
Switches that manage a router: the difference between a router and a switch
When it comes to managed switches and routers, there are many comparisons. Here are the key differences between them:
Layer: Managed wizards work at the Data Link layer (Layer 2) while the router runs at the network layer (Layer 3).
Function: Managed switches can connect multiple devices and manage ports and VLAN settings. However, routers send data directly over the network and between computers or between computers and modems.
Firewall Service: Routers provide a firewall service that is different from managed switches.
Address used for data transmission: The switch is managed using a Mac address while the router uses the IP address.
Ports: In general, routers have only 4 LAN ports and WAN ports, while switches have additional ports such as 12, 24, 48 etc.
Applications: Routers are used to connect two different networks, while managed switches are used to connect two or more nodes in the same network.
Conclusion
The biggest difference between managed switches and routers is in the operating layer. Managed switches operate at level 2 (data link layer) while routers operate at level 3 (network layer). However, routers and switches are computer network devices that allow at least one computer to connect to the computer. Other devices, network devices, or other networks, so sometimes they can be used for the same purpose