The Difference Between a Switch and a Router in Network Infrastructure

The difference between a switch and a router in a network infrastructure lies in their functions and the way they handle network traffic.

Switch:

A switch operates at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model. It is used to connect devices within a Local Area Network (LAN) and forwards data packets to the specific device based on its MAC address.

Router:

A router operates at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model. It is used to connect different networks (LANs or WANs) and manages the routing of data packets between them based on IP addresses.

While a switch is responsible for creating network segments and reducing network congestion by directing data to a specific device, a router is responsible for determining the best path for data packets to reach their destination across different networks.

Therefore, the key difference between a switch and a router is that a switch operates within a single network, while a router connects multiple networks together.

Understanding the roles and functionalities of switches and routers is crucial for designing an efficient and secure network infrastructure.