At 9:47 PM -0500 2/4/2003, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>Hey Gang...
>
>FINALLY realized that I could get better internet usage out of my pre-G3
>('040 and PCI) Macs by increasing data speed opposed to processor speed...
>
>Now, I recently got my DSL service, with the cable modem and such.... now I
>need to make it accessible to all my computers and printers. I thought(!)
>that all I needed was a 4+ port router to connect everything via ethernet
>cables... but THEN I visited Best Buy...!!Is that a cable modem or a DSL modem. Cable and DSL are two ways to get broadband access but are two separate technologies. > >COULD SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A "ROUTER" AND A >"SWITCHER?" Are "switchers" just for wireless connections? (Would have asked >the guys at Best Buy, but COULD NOT FIND ONE(!), as they usually keep only >TWO in the department, and OF COURSE their main concern is to help the >70-year-old grandma get a 2.5Ghz, Super ALIENWARE computer so she can e-mail >her grandkids...) A "Router" makes higher level decisions about where network traffic should go (be routed). The common variety router you'll find for SOHO use does Network Address Translation (NAT), aka IP Masquerading. It lets a single real world IP address (from dialup, DSL, Cable, etc) provide network access to many computers. Routers operate at the network protocol level so they route IP AppleTalk, Novell, etc. A single router can route multiple protocols but it is as if there are separate routers doing each. A "Switcher" is a railroad locomotive used to move cars around a rail yard. (Sorry but I couldn't resist). A switch moves Ethernet packets around and optimizes network traffic by only sending packets to where they are needed. Switches can move traffic between 10BaseT and 100BaseT (or even 1000BaseT) connections. A switch only operates at a low level on Ethernet packets and cares not about the high level protocol (IP, AppleTalk, etc). A confusing factor is that a modern "Router" can contain a NAT Router, Switch, wireless Access Point, DHCP filter, firewall and probably a few other things. Consequently the naming gets muddled. The only real solution is to know enough about each to understand it, at least a little. Or know someone who does! -- Clark Martin Redwood City, CA, USA Macintosh / Internet Consulting "I'm a designated driver on the Information Super Highway" -- PCI-PowerMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Sonnet & PowerLogix Upgrades - start at $169 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PCI-PowerMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/pci-powermacs.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/pci-powermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
