Ethernet hubs versus switches

[@w1llums575]

Absolutely stellar video. I very rarely see such clear and concise tutorial videos for networking features. And the fact that it used a PLC and an HMI, as opposed to just a router and a PC like most videos on this make it excellent.

[@ucimyy4u]

thank you. this is the clearest explanation of the differences between a switch and a hub that I have ever seen.

[@spp2000]

yup .. fantastic clear and crisp explanation

[@sirdeboben]

You made a better video than what 99.99% of the other people have made! Thank you!

[@KarltroidContact]

10 years later and this helped me with my cyber security course I am currently taking for a certification! Never heard of a hub before and didn't even realize this feature of switches I've been using forever! I've always viewed switches the way I now know hubs work, thank you sir!

[@utaptube]

Excellent!. "Show and Tell" proves its worth once again. How or why did we ever get away from it in teaching?. Thanks!

[@lynntfuzz]

Thank you! You are an amazing teacher. That was so clear, it was a pleasure to watch!

[@Car0linaPh03nix]

The only reason for the delay when switching the PLC to a new port is the fact that it almost never transmits on its own (possibly once every 5 minutes). If it was reconfigured to transmit a frame every few seconds, this wouldn't be an issue. (For example, if you had two full-fledged computers connected to the switch, those networking stacks are going to talk so frequently that there would be almost no delay when changing ports under pretty much any circumstances)

[@FIREDRAGON158]

+lpreams
I was thinking this as well.

[@kpricepc]

I didn't know any of this. This is very helpful information. Thank You

[@designertjp-utube]

Wonderful Explanation! I figure that unless a *Ethernet* *Switch* is way faster than a *Ethernet* *Hub,* I'll go with a Hub. A Hub definetly sounds like it's a _"set & forget it"_ situation.

[@James_Knott]

Can you even buy a hub these days? Most hubs were 10 Mb, though there were some at 100 Mb. Switches are often 1 Gb or more these days. You're also likely slowing down your Internet connection, unless you have a really slow one. I have 1 Gb switches here and I get 920 Mb down on my Internet connection.

[@brianh.8309]

If you aren't a teacher/professor, you would be great. You made this so clear and easy to understand. Thank you so much.

[@restolad]

that power cycle tip when moving a port is gold!!! as always a brilliant explanation /lesson,thanks for recording uploading.

[@comiawemew8309]

At last someone who has made a straight forwards video and explained in simple terms ... I THANK YOU

[@bobblum5973]

Ethernet originated as a "bus" architecture, multiple nodes on a single shared cable. Over time it evolved to use hubs, repeaters, and bridges to expand and extend the maximum distances between nodes. It later became more of a star configuration, as we have today, where you almost invariably have an active network device interconnecting things, acting as a sort of traffic cop for the data packets.
I worked with Ethernet back in the early days, even fixed a major throughput problem by understanding the difference between Ethernet 2.0 and IEEE 802.3 standards ("heartbeat" vs. SQE). We've come a long way, but understanding how things work at the lower levels, as this video shows, can really help when fighting problems or preventing them in the first place.

[@James_Knott]

My first Ethernet experience was in the mid 80s, with DECnet over 10base5 Thicknet. In 1989, I hand wired a couple of Ethernet controllers on prototyping boards for Data General Eclipse computers. I also had some experience along the way with 10base2 Thinnet. In spring 1997, I was working on a job to convert some Ontario government offices from 10base2 to 10baseT, so they could move to switches.
These days, my home LAN is 1 Gb and with my Internet connection around 920 Mb down, it may soon be time to upgrade my network.

[@eugen189763987689379]

Studied information science and had to stumble upon this to finally get enlightened! Thanks!!!

[@Terry-7]

Excellent video and explanation. Your explanation, along with the physical demonstration, was extremely helpful. Thanks!

[@MattSyTy]

Bravo! I was asked this exact question last week by my boss at work and I didn't know.
Funny how it's little understandings like this that stump even the best of us.

[@siaalpha]

Explained very well. you should be an instructor....I always wondered what the difference was ..

[@AntonioToomalatai]

I hope this guys a teacher. Natural delivery.

[@JadeB628]

Thanks. but now that you explained the difference. it made a world of a difference. because I could NOT figure out why my brand new Linksys 8 port switch was all of a sudden slower than my older switch.
as they in New England. "if you don't like the weather. wait 5 min " thanks

[@romankaramalak]

Thank you, really well explained. I'm getting ready for final, and learning this really helps. I prefer visual over textbook. thank you again.

[@0li07]

Great explanation and demonstration of the benefits and disadvantages, thanks!

[@vinyltapelover]

BTCInstrumentation Your video was succinct, clear and very helpful to a person who likes to tinker with literally, a room full of acquired stuff. I happened to see your thumbnail while actually looking for something else. This is now one of my bookmarks/favorites. Thank you much.

[@bigambience1271]

What a clear and well explained video. I learn't switch behaviours I didn't know, thank you

[@AMindInOverdrive]

Wow. nicely explained. This little piece of info will serve me well ;-)
I just watched a video by Eli the Computer Guy, where he mentioned a bad point about a Buffalo Switch's loop detection. When the loop detection is switched on it had to be power cycled before the feature worked. He didn't mention why that would be the case. After watching this video I'm guessing it has something to do with what you just explained...detection of specific MAC address to specific port...nice

[@OldLordSpeedy]

MJ D Exactly. Here many so-called "Computer Experts" at CZcams, and over thousend use the comment section of CZcams too!

[@bitsofskin2088]

This has to be the clearest explanation of hubs/switches on the net :)
Thank you :D

[@TomChopperGuitar]

I appreciate the “plain English” explanation!

[@mbrown5494]

It would have helped to show that a hub "talks" to all ports, and the switch doesn't bother other active hosts. There were no other active hosts to make that comparison. This vid makes it seem that a hub is a much better choice on a small network. I would like to know when the hubs' blind broadcasts becomes a detriment, and the switch becomes beneficial. Thanks for the vid.

[@YellingSilently]

Always, hubs cannot run in full duplex. Even for just 2 computers, a regular patch cable is better; they can handle full duplex. The only time you want a hub is for Wiresharking traffic from two computers in 1992, and even then there are better options.

[@stevewarren4292]

Hubs are pretty rare. Rule of thumb, if you find one, disconnect it and throw it away.

[@charleshart5563]

Steve Warren I got a laugh out of that.

[@biggiii]

Steve Warren I dont know what i laugh so hard to that lol... good one !

[@stevewarren4292]

***** No. the hub will actually cause you to get IP conflicts on your network. The hub will work fine as long as only one device on it is operating at a time. But because it does not assign IP addresses to each device with DHCP, if you turn on two devices connected to a hub at the same time, they will start trying to use the same IP address and you will get IP conflict error messages. Go ahead, use a switch. They're cheap and you'll never even know it's there. Everything will just work.

[@martinx6502]

+Steve Warren That's completely wrong. A hub (or switch) has NOTHING to do with assigning IP addresses - if you get you get duplicate IP addresses, there's something else wrong in you network.

[@fischb22]

+Steve Warren Hubs are more common then you think, alot of what is marketed as a switch today are really just hubs. a hub operates on layer 1, a switch operates on layer 2 of the OSI model. a hub passes date to every port attached, a real switch only sends the packet to the port that is leads to the destination of said packet.

[@OldLordSpeedy]

Okay, this be an old schooling video from 2013 but exactly this is all correct! Thanks for make it. Anno 2016 no one use more an extra hub now, only for diagnostic service we like. This "calling in the room" of a hub is it what we service technicans love to use. But many modern managed switches do you can use as hub for the ports how you likes.

[@joshuafox2216]

There should be dead-timers within the switch CAM table to flush old MAC Address entries. But you'll have to wait. Otherwise, you can always power cycle switch to clear CAM table. Nice video.

[@josiasmartinsjr9353]

Very good and didatic explanation. Now I know the difference between HUB and SWITCH. Thanks for sharing!

[@waleedalrashed1411]

best video i've ever seen about the differences , thank you

[@agello24]

The way you just explained this, made sooo much better sense. i currently own a hub off of a router. i was looking for a reason to get a switch. thanks for the tutorial.

[@cannonrange9977]

Gosh this is so enlightening! I've had this explained to me many times, but now I understand! Thank you!

[@paulxblue839]

Nice job on this video. I'm using it for our tech support people so they can get the impact of the data switch's behavior on troubleshooting matters. Really glad I found this one.

[@DavidLuchow]

Best explanation 100% in a practical situation ! 161 dislike at the time of this comment i guess they do not understand English.

[@Techtrendzs]

Most simple explanation !! Thank you

[@AlessioMichelini]

Very cool video, I always wondered what were the differences between the two!

[@christianmarquez3143]

I wish I had you as a teacher in school. All your videos have very clear and thorough explanations.

[@MrVinsparks]

Awesome demonstration and explanation

[@himipal]

great explanation....it helps to explain in pratice

[@nnse1]

The best video I've ever seen. Well explained.

[@vsajewel]

Wow! Great explanation and demo...I never knew we had to reboot the switch! Thanks so much!

[@mwsellox7751]

And now this is one hell of a good explanation. Thanks

[@joshuakosmela6571]

Great video. Thank you! Explained exactly what I was wanting to know!

[@mickwolf1077]

wow, thanks for the vid, i wasn't sure what the difference was but have always used switches anyway. Well explained :)

[@mumblic]

A switch can pick up is new connection (almost) as fast as a hub. It all depends of device configuration
The only real difference between a hub and a (unmanaged) switch is collision avoidance.

[@lasersmith23]

That was an incredibly good explanation. Thanks!

[@vaughy1]

Just love the so called experts (X being an unknown quantity and spert being a drip under pressure ) who just want to can this excellent demonstration on the differences between a switch and a hub. Ipreams is a good example of a know it all.

[@HenningMackszomotto]

amazing! finally I understood the diference! very thanks man!

[@twelvespanka6738]

Good Demonstration I learn something something today

[@mostmost1]

Thank you. I couldnt figure out why my new switch wouldn't work. all I had to do was reset it.

[@richman61]

excellent, I've learned something today. Always a good thing.

[@tonyhunterajh]

Excellent video! Thanks for sharing.

[@MrTayseanpwns]

Wait, so for the switch, what if you want to plug in multiple devices? I am plugging in my wifi router and my ps4, and it is only recognizing which ever one I plug in first. The other port is blinking, but there is no actual connection being made.

[@StringerNews1]

Looks like hubs are poised to make a comeback, at least for A/V production over IP, where synchronous operation is desired and store-and-forward is a liability.

[@hermis2008]

Thanks man for making this video. I learned a great deal by seen this.

[@RollingLogs21]

Great, simple explanation, thank you very much!

[@dineshvarma1362]

nice video presentation thank you.

[@MRboomchongo]

This is a great video. I was having trouble with a LAN party playing the game Halo on the Xbox 360. This video provided a good explanation on why some of my problems occurred.

[@websitesthatneedanem]

Excellent! Very useful.
Thanks for posting.

[@MasterChief-sl9ro]

One reason I use managed switches. I can tag ports or create VLANS...

[@yupthatsme214]

I actually learned something. thank you a lot!

[@skywalker165]

Very well explained in simple terms

[@floridahummer]

great explanation and easy to understand

[@e4r6v7f3s]

Very well explained and illustrated - thanks!

[@ThadeusHays]

Thank you. Very clear explanation.

[@axdel24]

Very clear and concise explanation. Thanks

[@Fireholder1]

Hub: ALL communications from ALL ports are broadcast to ALL ports - major flaw is data collision (explain what this means)
Switch: passes data from source port only to port associated with destination MAC address, ignoring all other ports
You might wish to give brief explanation regarding OSI model and what 'MAC address' means. Especially since your video is aimed at people who might experience issues because they don't understand the difference between a hub and a switch.

[@DannyLeeMatthews]

Thanks for the very clear explanation!

[@stevewarren4292]

That's my point. The one IP address on the hub gets sent out to more than one device plugged into it.

[@martinx6502]

+Steve Warren Yes, all packets get sent out to all ports, but that is NOT a problem: every device has a unique (usually factory-assigned) MAC address - and normally any device simply ignores packets destined for a different MAC address (IP addresses don't even matter on this level).
That's how Ethernet worked from the very beginning, when all traffic went over a single shared network cable (no fancy hubs or switches) - and it still works that way.
Of course, a switch is always preferable over a hub, but a properly working hub will NOT cause the problems you describe - it will just cause slower network performance on a busy LAN.

[@KL-bi2un]

thanks. didint' realize this was a problem. have had it to me before in my small office

[@kracksmith4ejm1]

Correct me if I'm wrong but when you moved the PLC blue cable from port 3 to port 4 and it don't communicate is because the switch will look at the source MAC address on it's MAC address table for that known source MAC address. If that source MAC address is on the switch MAC address table but was on port 3, the switch needs to wait 300 seconds (5 minutes) for the switch MAC address table to expire before it can log that same source MAC address to port 4.

[@Stlbartender]

Informative... Curious about this before but never enough to follow up and get informed. came across your vid so watched it. Thank you! and btw... I duno who you sound like, and this prob makes me sound weird, but you have a very pleasant speaking (or at least teaching) voice! So Good Job on that as well! lol

[@tankbastard]

Thank you this is a wonderful video. HUB\SWITCH I'll be damned! I was about to loose my S*%$ so bad until I found this video. I just wanted to try a SRX200 HUB and made it more complicated by bridging two Ethernet cards.

[@danfry909]

Great video, very well explained. Thanks!

[@twiztidsidfreak13]

thank you, i needed to know the difference and this explained what i needed to know

[@clifposey]

Moving the master also does a reset and is probably a better reset than recycling the power.

[@milofonbil]

Hubs are generally not used anymore because they tend to replicate packets. That replication of packets can use up the bandwith on your ethernet and cause broadcast storms. Switches solve this problem by only sending packets to specific ports (instead of broadcasting packets).
But that feature that they replicate packets can be used in order to "listen" to an ethernet conversation with say a laptop running a protocol analyzer such as WireShark. I keep a small hub in my toolbox for this purpose.

[@christiansonnenberg6306]

in a managed switch, like TL-SG3424, you can "simulate" a hub by transferring all data processed by the switch to one distinguished port.
So you can debug your network AND be happy to have no collision domain :)

[@mrlazda]

By definition broadcast storm is when node send/broadcast data over a network link, and the other side of link rebroadcasting same data back to it in response so it have not much to do what you use switch or hub.
You can have broadcast storm on switch to, connect 2 switches with 2 cables together and you have it instantly (without link aggregation on ports), of course no one will do that, but it can happen if you have lot of switches on different locations and not good documentation for network. Most modern switches some kind broadcast storm control so it will prevent it from doing network meltdown.

[@James_Knott]

Switches will broadcast to all ports, until they learn where the destination MAC is.

[@James_Knott]

@@christiansonnenberg6306 You're referring to what's often called "port mirroring". I have done that with a 5 port switch, which I carry in my computer bag.

[@christiansonnenberg6306]

@@James_Knott Thx for clarification and the blast from the past!
Since that post I've gotten a little bit of an education in networking and think I'd articulate myself a little bit better than nine years ago.
Nevertheless, how did you end up on a video with a topic so much out of date? :)

[@NenyaRingOfElement]

thank you for this....thanks a lot

[@James_Knott]

That hub would not be broadcasting to all 8 ports. It would broadcast to the other 7 and not the one the data comes in on. Also, your delay is an unusual situation. Normally, as soon as you plug into another port the DHCP sequence will run, letting the switch know where that MAC address is located.
BTW, who uses hubs these days. I have a 10 Mb, 8 port hub I bought around 25 years ago, but haven't used in years. Even then, hubs were on the way out, with switches becoming more common. The only reason I went with a hub then was switches were still a lot more expensive. These days, an 8 port Gb switch can be had for about 1/4 what I paid for that hub.

[@neophytefilms1268]

Nice and simple. great video!

[@richm1615]

Excellent and insightful.

[@qzorn4440]

great info, automationdirect needs to have this video. thanks.

[@sailorondatea]

Thanks! That was a very informative.

[@Engineer9736]

The switch probably doesn’t see the PLC on the other port right away, because the PLC doesn’t transmit anything until it gets a request to do so. If you got a network device that’s a bit more talky, like a PC or laptop, it should start working again within seconds.

[@boonedockjourneyman7979]

Based on the comments alone, please do a video on OSI layers. Even this video would make more sense if you factor layering.

[@Jerrec]

Interesting video! I never saw a switch taking 5 minutes to update it's mac table. Is this a cheap netgear issue? Usually when a switch inidicates a port up, it refreshes the mac table.

[@jokerbatman119]

you should prepare another few cables and ports to show clearer demo, easier to understand

[@michaelshreves3549]

That was a great video.

[@ladymei88]

Thank you very much for the clear explanation.i am wondering if I can use two Ethernet switches at the same time. I have one switch plugged into the router directly upstairs and run a 100 feet Ethernet cable from that switch to a desktop computer in the basement. Can I split this cable by plug the end (in the basement) into the 2ND Ethernet switch and hook up 2 computers into that switch? will it work?

[@kennethwhite8691]

This is great info. Thank you

[@WhyGuy2387]

Another major difference between a Hub and a Switch is that a Hub is a layer 1 device which makes it as intelligent as an ethernet cable and a Switch is already on layer 2.

[@OldLordSpeedy]

Sorry so it is wrong. Hub be technically parts of OSI 2, switch parts of OSI 2 or/and OSI 3. OSI Layer 1 be the physically cable self! A OSI Layer not mean the device must use all of them, it is only a theory plan, not more!

[@mikeirwin9985]

Excellent explanation.Thanks

[@randolfdumbledore8635]

great video thank you so much for clearing up my question. i had a question i have a cable modem with 4 outlets one for the cable and 3 for your use. now i have 5 computers all wired not wifi. i also have vonage internet phone that needs connected too. i have have twc fastest internet connection they offer for the home. it is 50 Mbps down and 10 Mbps up. so i could get a gigabit switch plug everything into it then one cable from the switch to the cable modem, correct? right now i have 2 computers and phone wired and 3 computers on wifi but i want all wired. so will the switch help me with connection and speed over using just the modem only? the switch i am looking at is TRENDnet TEGS16DG Gigabit GREENnet Switch. is this a good switch to buy? or what do you suggest? again thanks for your help.

[@sogno2me]

I learned something today! Thank you so much. Good video.

[@OldLordSpeedy]

Again to all the odinary persons her - technically works a switch same a hub. Both be same a multiple (switched) socket-outlet for your cables. The difference is that the hub call into all rooms in a hotel and a switch call only the correct room in a hotel. Exactly this demostration do you see live in this old schooling video from 2013!

[@Zishy]

+OldLordSpeedy except that he didnt show the major issues that arise with hubs that have alot of ports. even 8port hubs will run into collisions very very fast

[@TonnyCassidy]

In my network of computers even when i move any plug the switch work right away for some reason

[@muluaneley575]

I am not cmpute for others why b/c you are specials!!!! so i appreceate to you thank you so much.pelase keep up this type of supports ok

[@debimartocci7697]

Alright the switch behavior is interesting since none of my switches have that "deaf port" issue demonstrated in the video. I'm honestly thinking it's a problem with the specific switch itself. I would love to see a follow-up video of this done with a different brand switch such as Linksys.

[@BuildThoseSkills]

The deaf port issue only happens if you try to switch the ports while the switch is turned on. In the real world people set up their switch to serve all the computers in their home or office, and then they don't have to mess with the switch anymore. It's beyond me why anyone would want to switch a cable to a different port on a regular basis. And if you really wanted to do this, just unplug the switch while doing it, then plug it back in and the switch will reset itself right away. I think the man in the video was just showing this deaf port problem to prove how switches and hubs differ, in that a switch has independent ports that talk to the source, whereas the ports of a hub are all "glued" together and share the same information from the source.

[@fischb22]

+David Senos that only applies on home owner grade switches, commerical switches can be 'mac-locked' to wear only a specific mac address will work in a specific port. (this has to do with physical security)