Most routers have four Ethernet ports

Router is a network device that forwards data packets between computer networks. Routers perform traffic guidance functions between networks and on the global Internet. Data sent through the network, such as web pages or e-mail, is sent in the form of data packets. Packets are usually forwarded from one router to another through the network that constitutes the Internet (for example, the Internet) until they reach the destination node.

The router connects to two or more data lines from different IP networks. When a packet enters from one of the rows, the router reads the network address information in the packet header to determine the final destination. Then, it uses the information in its routing table or routing strategy to guide the data packet to the next network in its journey.

The most common types of IP routers are home and small office routers, which only forward IP packets between home computers and the Internet. More complex routers, such as enterprise routers, connect large enterprise or ISP networks to powerful core routers, which transmit data at high speed along the optical fiber line of the Internet backbone.

Most routers have four Ethernet ports that allow you to plug in four devices and communicate through switch functions. If you need more than four Ethernet connections, you need to upgrade to a router with a larger port group (this is a very expensive proposal, usually only eight ports can be added), or you can choose a dedicated switch. Note: You need to upgrade only if there are no physical ports for hardwired connections. If you only have a computer and a printer connected to a four-port router (other devices on the network are Wi-Fi based), you do not need to upgrade to obtain the physical port. In other words, let's look at a network with a private switch.

Although the four-port limit of most home routers is sufficient for most home users, the number of networkable devices in the home has increased significantly in the past 10 years. It is not uncommon to have multiple computers, multiple game consoles, media centers, printers, file servers, etc. connected to the Ethernet LAN (although you may place Wii on the Wi-Fi network for dedicated video streaming and media server access, it is better to have a hard wire connection). Once you reach the level of device saturation, it is necessary to add a switch with 8, 16 or more ports to properly support the growing home network.

By the way, in history, people often relied on hubs because they were much cheaper than expensive switches. A hub is a simple network device. It does not check or manage any traffic through it - it is a "dumb" network device - in contrast, the switch actually interacts with packets and actively guides them. Because the hub has no management components, the data packets often conflict with each other, resulting in overall performance degradation. Hub has many technical defects. In the past 10 years, the price of consumer network switches has dropped sharply, so that few hubs have been produced (Netgear, one of the largest consumer hub manufacturers, even no longer produces hubs). Due to the shortcomings of network hubs and the low price of high-quality consumer network switches, we do not recommend using hubs. When you can buy a very good high-speed 8-port switch for $25, there is no reason to use outdated hubs on your home network.

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