Routers and Switches

[AustinB]

I've been wanting start a home network cause I'm going to have some free space in my living room and had a few questions.

1. Whats is a router and what does it do?
2. Do I need a router?
3. Am I able to use a old server as a router?
4. Whats the difference between a Router and a Switch?

I'm wanting to have a storage/backup, and a Testing server.

 

Thanks,

Austin.

[AMICLG]

In the simplest terms a router is the separating line between LAN and WAN it also knows how to forward traffic to the Internet and yes you need one.

If it has two NICs you can use it as a router with pfSense.

A switch routes local traffic and does basic addressing.

 

What's your budget?

[Ssoele]

1. A router is basically a device that lets you communicate between different networks (eg. the internet and your home network).

2. If you want to access the internet, yes.

3. Yes, there are OS's like pfSense and m0n0wall, but it's generally recommended to just buy one in the store.

4. A switch just distributes packages to the correct device. Most routers have switches build in, that's why you will see most routers have multiple ports for the internal network.

[ygohome]

2. Technically you don't have to buy a separate router.  You could just plug one computer into the back of the ONE ethernet jack on the back of a cable modem to get internet.  You wouldn't have wifi and you wouldn't have any other computers on your "LAN", just the one.  

 

 

but if you wanted, you could also setup the one computer to act as a wifi access point or as a router (per the above posts) for other computers to get internet.

 

 

I don't recommend this, but it is possible.  Instead I recommend using the right tools for the job... buying a proper router.

[Accidentx13]

As the name suggest, a router directs routes to your network inbound and outbound. Simple routers have simple routing protocols.

Now days the term router is for business, the term Modem is the correct terminology to use for the device that sits in your home that does all three (router, switch, WAP). So you dont need a router, a modem...yes

You can use a computer/server/laptop to run virtual router software for it too be a router, so yes you can

An switch is almost the same as a router, except switches cant be connected to the internet. You can get layer 3 switches that have some function as a router, but still no internet connection.

I would suggest to get a modem to have your internet (ADSL/CABLE/FIBRE), use that same device as a switch and have the same device again give you wireless. Unless you have a lot of devices then a switch is needed.

[Ssoele]

I thought that was a modem and most routers have modems built in?

 

A modem only communicates between different media, like ethernet and phoneline or ethernet and coax.

 

It is true that a lot of ISP's give you 1 box that has a modem and a router build in, but it's definitely not like that is the case always.