How to use a Network Switch With a Router? (Settings, Guides)

Connecting devices through Wi-Fi can decrease the speed of your internet. The best way to get the maximum speed is to connect the devices through LAN. But usually, routers come with very few LAN ports. This is where the Network switch comes to the rescue. A switch has around 6 to 8 ports to connect multiple devices. Let us understand how to use a network switch with a router.

How to use a Network Switch With a Router

How to use a Network Switch With a Router?

First of all, let us understand the difference between Switch and Router. Then you will be able to use them accordingly.

Switch vs Router

  • Both router and switch may seem to work in a similar fashion but it is not so. Routers are used to connect a network with other networks.
  • But switches help in connecting devices locally through a router which is connected to the network.
  • Also, the switch is inbuilt in the router but it cannot connect more devices like a switch.
  • Therefore, the major difference between the switch and router is that router connects a network to other networks along with switching capacity whereas a switch connects different devices locally to the router.

Setting up a Network switch with a Router

A switch connects to the router and expands the connectivity to more than 4 devices. Let us get to know the steps involved in setting up a network switch with the router.

  • First, unplug all the power supply from your router.
  • Connect one end of your ethernet cable to a LAN port of the router and take the other end of the cable into the switch
  • Take another ethernet cable and connect one end to the switch and the other end to your device.
  • Now switch on the router, you will have internet access to the device.
  • Similarly, you can connect multiple devices with an ethernet cable.
  • Likewise, you can expand your connectivity with multiple devices and enjoy seamless browsing.   

What are the Benefits of using a network switch with the router?

A network switch with a router is necessary for a large household or office environment. A router and a network switch work together in order to function properly and provide high-bandwidth connectivity to all connected devices in your home or office. Here are the benefits that actually from network switch with the router.

  • It have the capacity to inspect each and every data packet. It knows the source and destination device of every packet. Also, it can forward the packets to the appropriate device.
  • It provides the maximum available bandwidth to the devices.
  • It reduces the workload on individual devices without compromising the network performance. It gives an increased network performance.
  • It reduces the packet collisions through microsegmentation.

Network Switch with Router: Does it increase Internet Speed?

  • Using network switch with router increases the network performance significantly but that doesn’t mean it actually increases the internet speed.
  • To be precise, a network switch utilizes the maximum speed of the internet by taking the load off the router.
  • It takes advantage of the IP routing capabilities which enhances the overall performance of the network connectivity.
  • But directly a switch doesn’t increase or decrease the speed. It can only make use of the available speed to the maximum potential.

Also, read other posts from Network Switch and Hubs


What are the ideal places to use Network Switch with Router?

Before getting to know where you can use the network switch, you must consider certain parameters so that the switch can be used to its full potential.

  • The choice of the switch depends on the speed of your internet connection and how many devices you are going to connect.
  • Switches are available from 10-1000 Mbps and some are available with 100 Gbps too. So, choose a switch according to your speed need.
  • Apart from speed, switches are mainly used for multiple device connection. Therefore, if you have less than four devices, your router will be enough to satisfy the need. But if you need to connect more than 4 devices, then you should choose a switch with 5 or more ports.
  • Also, the connectivity range and speed may vary according to the type of switch.

Now after considering all the above, you must know where to use the switch. Typically, switches are used to connect multiple devices locally to a network. A router would do the same but it has a limited number of LAN ports.

But a network switch starts with 5 ports and can go up to 54 ports. So, if you have bought a router and would like to expand your devices, then you should make use of a switch. With a switch, you can connect multiple computer systems and other devices like printers, etc.

 If you have a large home and there are multiple users, then you can choose a network switch that gives seamless connectivity to all the users without compromising the speed. Unlike Wi-Fi, switches are connected through LAN and can provide the maximum speed possible to each user.


Network Switch with Router: Does a gamer need this combination?

Yes, if the gamer likes to expand his devices and obtain latency free gaming experience. Since the router can connect only a few devices, the switch enables the gamers to connect different devices and get the maximum available speed on each one.

Also, when gaming with multiple people at the same time, a switch provides you with low latency in all the devices. Therefore, it is best to use a switch for gaming.

When it comes to networking, gamers are not the only ones who need the network switch with a router combo. It is also important for people who handle different video streams or gamers who play online multiplayer games that require high-speed connections to maintain connection quality during gameplay.


Conclusion

Network switch with router enables you to connect more than 4 devices and gives the maximum available speed to each device. Even though a router has switched, it cannot connect more than 4 devices.

But a switch has a minimum of 5 ports which enables people to connect various devices without compromising the network performance.

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