Does a router work in place of your hub?

[Roody]

That is my newest question. Not sure I understand alot about them.

[C.M. Weaver]

A hub and a router are 2 different types of networking devices. A hub merely takes a signal from an incoming source and broadcasts it out ALL ports, even stations that don't need the data. Furthermore, a hub makes no forwarding decisions based on MAC or IP. Hubs are inefficient as they are propagate collisions and share the same piece of wire for all stations.

A router is a routing device that builds tables based on source/destination network addresses and determines the best path through the network using IP. A router is more efficient than a hub as it only send the data to the intended destination. There are many advanced features of routers, but this is the basic operation.

A switch is also a routing device, although not quite as sophisticated as a router and makes it's decisions based on MAC addresses and maintains tables. It differs from a router in that it creates virtual circuits between the source and destination, thus no requirement to share the same piece of wire.

[Roody]

so if i have a router on a 4 computer network that only runs on one IP will my connection slow down when all 4 computers are in use?

[C.M. Weaver]

If you are not using a switch in your network than yes, you will see less peformance on the network as the bandwidth requirements of each station increase. This can be fixed though by placing a switch on your LAN and giving each machine full access to the 10 or 100MB pipe.

A router will still propagate broadcasts in some cases but not all the time like in a hub. The best bet for your 4 computer example is to purchase a 4 port routed/switch with all machines having 100MB NIC cards installed behind the NAT firewall configured on your router.

The NAT (Network Address Translation) feature on the router would assign private local addresses to machines on your LAN and resolve them to the one IP assigned by your ISP. The router maintains a NAT table so it knows where data comes from and where it needs to go when it returns to the router. When you send data from a machine behind the NAT router it's source destination address is replaced with the IP assigned by your ISP and an entry is made in the NAT table. When the data returns, the router consults it's table and forwards it to the appropriate orignating source on your LAN.

NAT can also provide a basic firewall as it takes advantage of assigning IP addresses that are not routable over the internet.

[Roody]

so you can get routers that have switches then I take it? What one do you recommend?

[gmcd33]

I would get a Netgear RT-314. I have had it for about 8 monthes or so with no problem. It is knows to have a faster NAT processor then its linksys counter part. Sometimes they are on sale for $85.00 to $100.00.

Nexland seems to be making some nice products as well.

[C.M. Weaver]

I would get either the Netgear as gmcd33 has stated or the Linksys BEFSR41. These are the 2 most popular routers and are fine peices of equipment.

[Roody]

thanks for the info , ill head over to some internet sites to go check them out now. :)

[Roody]

ok i must be goofy here. cant seem to find a link to prices from online stores. anyone that can point me in the right direction?

[supercool]

buy.com (http://www.buy.com)

[BaLa]

www.PriceWatch.com

[Roody]

thanks for the links supercool and balakov :)