Routers and switches are networking devices that connect computers and networks, but they operate at different layers and have different functions. Routers operate at the network layer (layer 3) and use IP addresses to direct traffic between networks, while switches operate at the data link layer (layer 2) and use MAC addresses to direct traffic within a local area network. Some key differences are that routers can perform tasks like network address translation, have fewer ports, and take longer for routing decisions than switches.

1. Router vs Switch
Routers and switches are both computer networking devices. They allow one or
more computers to be connected to other computers, networked devices, or to
other networks.
However, the functions of a hub, switch and router are quite different, even if at
times they are integrated into a single device. Routers connect two or more logical
subnets, which do not necessarily map one-to-one to the physical interfaces of the
router. The term layer 3 switches often is used interchangeably with router, but
switch is really a general term without a rigorous technical definition.
In marketing usage, it is generally optimized for Ethernet LAN interfaces and may not
have other physical interface types.
All Attributes
Router Switch
Technical Routers operate at Layer 3 Network switches operate at
Specifications: (Network) of the OSI model. layer two (Data Link Layer)
of the OSImodel.
Layer: Network Layer (Layer 3 Data Link Layer (Layer 2
devices) devices)
Transmission Type: At Initial Level Broadcast At Initial Level Broadcast
then Uni-cast & Multicast then Uni-cast & Multicast
Table: Store IP address in Store MAC address in
Routing tableand maintain lookup tableand maintain
address at its own. address at its own, Switch
can Learn MAC address.
Usedin LAN. WAN LAN
(LAN/MAN/WAN):
Device Type: Networking device Networking device
Ports: 2/4/8 Switch is multi port Bridge.
24/48 ports
Data Transmission Packet Frame (L2 Switch) Frame &
form: Packet (L3 switch)

2. Router Switch
Collision: Less In Full Duplex Switch no
Collision occur.
Transmission Mode: Full duplex Full duplex
Device Category: Intelligent Device Intelligent Device
Bandwidth sharing: Bandwidth sharing is If speed of switch is 10/100
Dynamic (Enables either Mbps then bandwidth of
static or dynamic bandwidth each and every one of its
sharing for modular cable ports gets 10/100 Mbps.
interfaces. The default
percent-value is 0. The
percent-value range is 1-96.)
Speed: 1-10 Mbps(Wireless) 100 10/100Mbps, 1Gbps
Mbps (Wired)
Routing Decision: Take faster Routing Decision Take more time for
complicated routing
Decision
NAT (Network Can Perform NAT Switches can Not perform
AddressTranslation): NAT
Faster: In a different network In a LAN environment L3
environment (MAN/ WAN) switch is faster than Router
Router is faster than L3 (built in switchning
Switch. hardware)
Features: Firewall VPN Dynamic Priority rt range On/Off
hadling of Bandwidth setting of port VLAN
Port mirroring
Latest Models: Linksys WRT54GL Juniper Alcatel's OmniSwitch 9000;
MX & EX series Cisco Cisco Catalyst switch 4500
3900,2900,1900 and 6500(10 Gbps),
Differences
Router Switch

3. Router Switch
Technical Routers operate at Layer 3 Network switches operate at
Specifications: (Network) of the OSI model. layer two (Data Link Layer)
of the OSImodel.
Layer: Network Layer (Layer 3 Data Link Layer (Layer 2
devices) devices)
Table: Store IP address in Store MAC address in
Routing tableand maintain lookup tableand maintain
address at its own. address at its own, Switch
can Learn MAC address.
Used in LAN . WAN LAN
(LAN/MAN/WAN):
Ports: 2/4/8 Switch is multi port Bridge.
24/48 ports
Data Transmission Packet Frame (L2 Switch) Frame &
form: Packet (L3 switch)
Collision: Less In Full Duplex Switch no
Collision occur.
Bandwidth sharing: Bandwidth sharing is If speed of switch is 10/100
Dynamic (Enables either Mbps then bandwidth of
static or dynamic bandwidth each and every one of its
sharing for modular cable ports gets 10/100 Mbps.
interfaces. The default
percent-value is 0. The
percent-value range is 1-96.)
Speed: 1-10 Mbps(Wireless) 100 10/100Mbps, 1Gbps
Mbps (Wired)
Routing Decision: Take faster Routing Decision Take more time for
complicated routing
Decision
NAT (Network Can Perform NAT Switches can Not perform
AddressTranslation): NAT

4. Router Switch
Faster: In a different network In a LAN environment L3
environment (MAN/ WAN) switch is faster than Router
Router is faster than L3 (built in switchning
Switch. hardware)
Features: Firewall VPN Dynamic Priority rt range On/Off
hadling of Bandwidth setting of port VLAN
Port mirroring
Latest Models: Linksys WRT54GL Juniper Alcatel's OmniSwitch 9000;
MX & EX series Cisco Cisco Catalyst switch 4500
3900,2900,1900 and 6500(10 Gbps),
Similarities
Router Switch
Transmission At Initial Level Broadcast then At Initial Level Broadcast then
Type: Uni-cast & Multicast Uni-cast & Multicast
Device Type: Networking device Networking device
Transmission Full duplex Full duplex
Mode:
Device Category: Intelligent Device Intelligent Device
Notes: More network, Cisco, router, switch and network hardware tips you can visit:
http://blog.router-switch.com/category/reviews/