Router advantages?

[r0zvad]

Hello,

i am wanting to network my 3 pc's at home using my cable connection. I just wondered whether i needed a router or a hub. Is there any advantage in using a router over a hub or will the hub be the easy and cheap way?

Cheers.

 

[KfistoRok]

It's worthless to buy a hub when you can get a switch that is faster for not much more. On a hub the traffic is broadcast to all ports. However, on a switch the traffic goes to a specific port. You don't need a router, but I think you need a switch that does NAT to get all the pc's on the net with one public IP.

 

[XWRed1]

There is no such thing as a switch that does nat.

There are nat appliances with switches built in. Those things are marketted as routers.

 

[dagamore]

keep in mind with a hub you have shared bandwidth acrost all 3 computers, but with a router(with a built in switch) you have full bandwidth to all ports. also even if your router is a home use unit, that only uses nat for firewalling (and they all do until you get in to buisness levels) they will keep out alot of attacks on your network. Pluse the router will make it easier to add anothe workstation later, and if your ip only allows you to have 1 ip, with out paying more, this is a work around untill you can get more ip's (yes i pay for all my ip's)

Kfistorok a switch that does nat is a router.

 

[Kendan]

Get a router.

 

[OSUmaxx]

Short answer: get a router for sure.

The biggest advantage (as was mentioned) is that the traffic is only sent to where it is needed, reducing network congestion.

 

[srs]

I think probably one of the biggest advantages to a router is security. Dedicated bandwidth is nice to have, but I think securing your network is more important.