I’m looking to set up a little network between my computers in my home and went shopping for a hub. I found routers and switchers but I couldn’t tell the difference between the two. They both seem to do the same thing. I’m not looking to spend a lot of money but I don’t want to waste it on something that isn’t what I need. Any help?
Ok, one’s a router the other is a switch .
A switch routes packets between a bunch of computers.
A router connects two networks, possibly using different hardware or protocols. A router is something that has an internet connection on one end, and a switch on the other. A switch just connects a bunch of computers together, and one of the computers would have to act as a router for them to access another network (i.e. internet).
Routers shuffle packets based on IP, switchs shuffle packets based on MAC addresses. You will probably need a router between your internet connection and your internal network. Lots of companies have Modem/Router/Switch combos that can do all that. If you need more ports inside your network, then just add a switch.
Information flows around your network in packets that have headers with addresses and other stuff (like which “port” the packet is headed for, indicating how the recipient is supposed to interpret it).
Hubs just copy every packet from whatever line (whatever ethernet wire) it came in on, to every other line on the hub. Whoever it’s intended for will get it, and everybody else can just ignore it. This is easiest and cheapest to make.
Switches don’t change the packets, they just read enough of the header to figure out which line the packet should be sent out on, and send it there. This is more efficient than just sending it to everybody, in terms of reducing useless traffic and saving the network for necessary traffic. More expensive than hubs, but still not too hard.
Routers read and think about the headers. They may change the address (network address translation or NAT, so for instance you can make up your own IP addresses in your own network without thinking much about how others chose addresses on the internet or other networks you may connect to). They may compare the intended port against a list of allowable ports, and only let through the ones that are approved (this is a firewall, or maybe just one kind of firewall - not sure). I gather they can do a few different things like that. Then they send the (now possibly modified) packet along. routers only need to have two connections on them, and they do all these things to packets going from one connection to the other. They generally allow different rules for connection A to connection B versus the other way, and typically the two are labeled LAN (local area network) and WAN (wide etc).
Just to confuse things, routers often have a hub or switch built into them on the LAN side. You might find buying a router and using that hub or switch does what you need, but it’d be a little more expensive without accomplishing anything extra (unless you want to use the WAN port for the internet).
You guys have it all wrong.
A router is a woodworking tool with interchangeable bits that spins at high speeds. Very versatile, it can be used for everything from putting ornate edges onto corners to being used as a makeshift jointer to cutting dados and rabbets.
A switcher is the guy who activates the switches on a railroad. I would imagine this function has largely been automated, but not being a railroad enthusiast I couldn’t say for sure.
Frankly, I don’t understand how anyone could get the two confused.
No, no no. It’s the Goy guy who operates the elevator on Shabbes.
Sheesh!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think there are hubs on the market anymore. Only switches.
CompUSA has them, for what that’s worth. 
There are some applications where only a hub will work. For example, if you are trying to capture all the packets on your network segment, a hub is best because all the data is broadcast to every port on the hub.
There are ways around it using a switch and special software, but a hub makes things much easier.
What applications are those? A packet sniffer? A firewall?
That’s one. My department has a 100mbit hub or two that we keep around specifically for those times when we need to debug a network protocol problem, since most of us have switches in our offices.