how to choose Router or Switch ?

hi guys, I have need:
Desktop (XP SP3 PRO
Laptop (XP SP3 PRO
LAN printer 1
LAN printer 2

I need: Desktop can access (laptop , LAN PRN 1, LAN PRN 2)
Laptop can access (desktop, LAN PRN 1, LAN PRN 2)

how to choose ROUTER or SWITCH ?

what is this network?

 

thanks but I not understand:

router , (hubs/switch) is apple , orange ?
now "router" = "hubs/switch" , 2-in-1 ?

 

COOL... Broadband Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch

i remember year 2000, is need router+(hubs/switch), now year 2010 = 2-in-1 device.

but general, single router, or single (hubs/switch) to buy ?

thanks!

 

Koolss,

This is an old thread, but to answer your question. If you need the items networked as you show you require a switch, however if you require that plus internet connection then you require a router with ethernet ports.

Hope this clarifies the situation.

dbl057311

 

A simple explanation of where you are
Hubs are the simplest - its like water running though a splitter - but no control of traffic
A switch is correctly a "switching hub" - it has the means to direct traffic internally within the network , avoid collisions and speed up flow versus a dumb hub
A router's function is to connect two networks - in this case your home network and the internet
Routers have switches built into them to direct traffic internally and i guess decide if it can be routed internally or passed to the outside network
Here is the key - unless you are doing something where you need ultra high network speeds internally a router with its switch should do the job
Why make your life unnecessarily complex

 

An old networking saying;

Switch when you can, route when you must.

Use switches to expand your network & router when connecting two networks.

 

Hello koolss, For me i did understand the message. Do you want to be assist on step by step to connect them or cheapest device to use, or what?

Thank you

 

thanks all,. I was bought "4 port router ", and used.
but now problem, "4 port not enough to... "
next theads,
"4port router" + "4port hub "? or
"4port router" + "4port router "

 

Koolss, If i understand you. You should use switch instead of hub, actually Hub is good but i dont advise people to use it. Hub is not inteligent enough.
"4port router" + "Switch" (Switch has 24 port)

 

A switch can have 8-128 or possibly more ports. 24 ports is not written in stone, though its the most common switch used in small data centers.

 

Add up how many ports you need. Then multiple that by 1.5. Get a switch with that many ports. So if you want 6 ports, 6 x 1.5 = 9. So get a switch with at least 9 ports - for example a 12 port.

Don't connect any PCs to the router. Connect them all to the switch. You'll get far better computer to computer performance that way.