In the computer networking world, the three most ubiquitous pieces of equipment are modems, routers, and switches. These are used everywhere from the datacenter hosting Google to the internet ...

Don't be intimidated by your home networking hardware. Internet access is important for everyone to stay connected. But most people rely on technicians and their more tech-savvy friends and family to ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Technology journalist specializing in audio, computing and Apple Macs. If you’ve got a mesh Wi-Fi network set up in your home, you ...

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I use a simple unmanaged switch to expand my wired Ethernet access without complicating my home network.

Standing in the networking aisle of an electronics retail store, anybody could mistakenly pick up a router instead of an Ethernet switch or vice versa. The product packages as well as the devices ...

Everyone needs internet to stay connected, but most people rely on technicians and their more tech-savvy friends and family to set things up. While there's no shame in that, having a basic ...

The three devices commonly used for linking components together on a network are hubs, switches and routers. Though similar in function they differ in capability and utilization. Hubs and switches ...

The two major components in a small computer network are a modem and wireless router. The modem is wired to the Internet via the cable company's coaxial cable, the telephone company's DSL phone line, ...

In the living room, the primary router is connected to the modem. There are also several devices wired into that router. In the back of the house, I have a switch which is hardwired to the primary ...

When you sign a contract with an internet provider, they'll typically send you a modem and a router in the mail. But which is which? And how are they different? A modem and a router work in tandem ...