What is the Hub in Networking?
A Hub is the simplest of those switch, router, and bridges in Networking. In general, a hub is the central part of a wheel where the spokes come together. Hubs cannot filter data so data packets are sent to all connected devices/computers and do not have intelligence to find out best path for data packets. This leads to inefficiencies and wastage.
As a network product, a hub may include a group of modem cards for dial-in users, a gateway card for connections to a local area network [for example, an Ethernet or a token ring], and a connection to a line. Hubs are used on small networks where data transmission is not very high.
This image tells you how the hub connects with other devices.
What is the Network Layer of Hub?
This table shows that Hub is in the First [Physical] Network Layer.
Device | Hub | Bridge | Switch | Router | Wireless Access Point | Repeater |
Network Layer | 1 [Physical] | 2 [Data] | 2 [Data] or 3 [Network] | 3 [Network] | 1 [Physical] or 2 [Data] | 1 [Physical] ,2 [Data] or 3 [Network] |
What is the difference between a hub and a switch?
The hub is similar with the switch, but they still have differences:
Device | Hub | Switch |
Layer | Physical layer. Hubs are classified as Layer 1 devices per the OSI model. | Data Link Layer. Network switches operate at Layer 2 of the OSI model. |
Function | To connect a network of personal computers together, they can be joined through a central hub. | Allow to connect multiple device and port can be manage, VLAN can create security also can apply |
Data Transmission form | Electrical signal or bits | Frame [L2 Switch] Frame & Packet [L3 switch] |
Transmission Type | Hubs always perform frame flooding; may be unicast, multicast or broadcast | First broadcast; then unicast & multicast as needed. |
Ports | 4/12 ports | Switch is multi-port Bridge. 24/48 ports |
Device Type | Passive Device [Without Software] | Active Device [With Software] & Networking device |
Used in [LAN, MAN, WAN] | LAN | LAN |
Table | A network hub cannot learn or store MAC address. | Switches use content accessible memory CAM table which is typically accessed by ASIC [Application Specific integrated chips]. |
Transmission Mode | Half duplex | Half/Full duplex |
Broadcast Domain | Hub has one Broadcast Domain. | Switch has one broadcast domain [unless VLAN implemented] |
Definition | An electronic device that connects many network devices together so that devices can exchange data | A network switch is a computer networking device that is used to connect many devices together on a computer network. A switch is considered more advanced than a hub because a switch will on send MSG to device that needs or request it |
Speed | 10Mbps | 10/100 Mbps - 1 Gbps |
Address used for data transmission | Uses MAC address | Uses MAC address |
Device Category | Not Intelligent Device | Intelligent Device |
Collisions | Collisions occur commonly in setups using hubs. | No collisions occur in a full-duplex switch. |
Spanning-Tree | No Spanning-Tree | Many Spanning-tree Possible |
Was this article helpful? 8 out 18 found this helpful