what exactly does a "switch" do?

[Easy Rhino]

what exactly does a "switch" do?

[Namslas90]

Try here (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/lan-switch10.htm).

[Easy Rhino]

Try here (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/lan-switch10.htm).

ahhh k, so im guessing there is no real reason to have a switch for a home network?

[Polaris573]

ahhh k, so im guessing there is no real reason to have a switch for a home network?

If you have a home router it already has a built in switch. However, if you need more ports your better off buying another switch rather than a hub since they're roughly the same price.

[Easy Rhino]

If you have a home router it already has a built in switch. However, if you need more ports your better off buying another switch rather than a hub since they're roughly the same price.

excellent. it was like you read my mind!

[Completely Bonkers]

If you have a switch you cannot snoop traffic that's passing through. With a hub you can. Hubs are therefore still attractive for logging and/or hacking and/or anti-hacking. Often a hub is put "upstream" so an administrator can have a look at whats going in-out of the WAN port or network bridge.

[Pinchy]

If you have a switch you cannot snoop traffic that's passing through. With a hub you can. Hubs are therefore still attractive for logging and/or hacking and/or anti-hacking. Often a hub is put "upstream" so an administrator can have a look at whats going in-out of the WAN port or network bridge.

But a switch is a lot faster as it is full duplex.

You wont often get a hacker on your home wired network, unless your family hates you :p...

[erocker]

But a switch is a lot faster as it is full duplex.

You wont often get a hacker on your home wired network, unless your family hates you :p...

Lol, I wish we had "home networked" computers as a child! Both of my brothers PC's would be useless!:laugh: