Difference between a Switch and a Router

A common question on everybody’s mind is what is difference between and switch and a router. Router today work like switch and Switches work like router these days and they look like doing the same thing but technically what is the difference between the two. Let get this mystery solved.

A Switch is network device which connect all network device on a local network.  The Switch routes the data at the data link layer 2 of the OSI model. Switches that additionally process data at the network layer 3 and above are called layer-3 switches or multilayer switches.
A Router on the other hand is a sophisticated piece of network device that forwards data packets between computer networks, creating an overlay internetwork. Many routers today are, in fact, little computers dedicated to the task of routing network traffic. In simple terms a Router is a device which helps you connect your office network to Internet, allows the network Administrator to router data, traffic directing, manage speed etc.  A router is connected to two or more data lines from different networks. Like a Switch, a router has multiple data line and when a data packet comes in one of the lines, the router reads the address information in the packet to determine its ultimate destination. Then, using information in its routing table or routing policy, it directs the packet to the next network on its journey. Router comes in different shapes and sizes including Wireless and Gigabit routers. Routers are needed to connect more than one devices to the internet. Today most of the routers also acts as a Switch having 4 or more LAN ports.
Synergy IT is leading Network Support company offering Network support and sale on Routers and Switches across Canada.