Differences between Switched Networks and Routed Networks
The digital age thrives on the efficient transmission of data across vast networks. This intricate web of connections relies on two fundamental technologies – switched networks and routed networks. While both facilitate communication, they operate in distinct ways, serving different purposes within the larger network infrastructure.
This article aims to clarify the key differences between switched networks and routed networks and describe their functionalities and applications.
Switched Network
The switched network involves using a device that filters, forwards, or floods frames based on the destination address of each frame. Switches perform their routing functions at the layers 2 models of the OSI. Some switches process data at the Network Layer (layer 3).
These switches are referred to as layer 3 switches or multilayer switches. Switches form integral parts in networking LANs or WANs. Small office and home office (SOHO) applications normally use a single or an all-purpose switch. The network switch is a very adaptable Layer 2 device; it replaces the hub as the central point of connection for multiple hosts.
In a switched network, all of the devices share a single data link, but they communicate with one another directly, typically over a layer 2 interface like Ethernet. The network interface address of each device connected to the network is the same for all connected devices. As a result, every device will have the same logical address when accessed through the network. For instance, if two devices on a network use the same MAC address, the network won’t be able to tell that they are different from one another. The network could distinguish them thanks to their IP addresses.
In a more complex role, a switch may be connected to one or more additional switches to create, manage, and maintain VLAN connectivity and redundant links. No matter how it is being utilised, a switch will process all forms of traffic in the exact same manner.
Switches move traffic based on MAC addresses. Each switch maintains a MAC address table in high-speed memory, called content addressable memory (CAM). The switch recreates this table every time it is activated, using both the source MAC addresses of incoming frames and the port number through which the frame entered the switch.
As mentioned earlier, switches operate at the data-link layer of the OSI model; their function is to create a different collision domain per switch port. Take an example of four computers: PC 1, PC 2, PC 3, and PC 4, attached to switch ports. PC 1 and PC 2 can transfer data between them, so as PC 3 and PC 4, simultaneously without interfering with each other’s conversations. Unlike the hub, which allows bandwidth sharing by all ports, it runs in a half-duplex and is prone to collisions of frames and retransmissions.
With some ISPs and other networking environments where there is a need for much analysis of network performance and security, switches may be connected between WAN routers as places for analytic modules. Some switches provide an in-built firewall, network intrusion detection and performance analysis modules that can plug into switch ports.
Routed Network
On the other hand, a routed network is usually only used when a bridged network is unavailable, either due to hosting provider restrictions or because the libvirt server is connected wirelessly to the LAN. Virtual machines (VMs) have their own IP addresses but do not bind directly to them. Instead, packets destined for those addresses are statically routed to the libvirt server and forwarded to VMs (without using NAT).
The devices that form a routed network do not talk to each other directly but are routed through a device called a router. On the outside of the router, usually towards the internet, there is a device called an address resolution protocol, or in the past a name resolution protocol, or in the more technical past a network host address resolution protocol, or in the more modern past a dynamic host configuration protocol. This device provides the address to which data is sent. An address may be an IP address, an email address or a URL, among other things.
Differences in Traffic Management
Network switches are used in switched networks to connect devices and manage traffic. When a device sends data, the switch uses the MAC address of the device to route the data to the correct destination. Switched networks are ideal for situations in which multiple devices must communicate with one another quickly and efficiently. They also provide dedicated bandwidth for each network device, ensuring that network traffic does not interfere with one another.
Routed networks, on the other hand, use network routers to connect devices and manage traffic. When a device transmits data, the router uses the device’s IP address to route the data to its intended destination. Routed networks are ideal for situations in which multiple networks must be linked together or when traffic must be segmented to improve network performance or security.
The key distinction between switched and routed networks in traffic management is that switched networks are typically more efficient at handling traffic within a single network segment, whereas routed networks are better suited to handling traffic between different network segments. Switched networks can move data quickly between devices on the same network, but they are less effective at routeing data between networks. Routed networks, on the other hand, are more efficient at routeing data between networks but may not be as efficient at handling traffic within a single network segment.