Difference between Router and Switch

·        Router understand IP head, and switch deal with MAC address

·        Router has its own IP address(es), and switch don’t

·        Router has an operating system running inside, and allow administrator to login into the system.

·        You (network administrator) must configure routing table to make it works.

·        Switch is usually ready to use.

·        Router has routing software running inside, including route discovery protocol.

·        Routing software know how to deal with different IP packet, such as ICMP and other IP option functionality. Switches don’t.

·        Multiple routers can be connected together as a network.

·        You can’t directly multiple switches together to form a large network.