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Wired home networks offer increased security and prevent strangers from hijacking your Internet signal. The three types of network devices to choose from are hubs, switches, and routers. Hubs are cheap and efficient but cannot selectively send messages. Switches are faster and can transmit information to a specific computer but are slightly more expensive. Routers are best for connecting your home network to the Internet and should include a built-in firewall and password protection.
While many people prefer the convenience of a wireless home network, there are still several compelling reasons to opt for a wired home network, including increased security for your personal information and increased ability to prevent strangers from hijacking your Internet signal. When setting up a wired home network, the only real connectivity option is 10/100 Ethernet cable. This is required to set up any wired home network, and the quality between brands is usually interchangeable. Therefore, the only decision you have to make is the specific type of network device for your home network: a hub, switch, or router. Which one to choose depends on the specific goals behind building the network.
A hub is a basic networking device that acts to connect multiple computers together over a wired connection using an Ethernet cable. The hub works by serving as a focal point for information entering the network. It receives information sent by other computers on the network and distributes it to all connected computers. The main advantage of a hub is its cost and efficiency; the hubs are cheap and there is nothing to setup or configure. Therefore, if low cost is a priority for your wired home network, the hub provides a strong solution.
Hubs are not without their drawbacks, however. One major drawback is that it cannot selectively send messages to individual computers on the network; every computer on the network receives every single message. Another major drawback is the fact that a hub cannot receive and send messages at the same time. Therefore, it is slower than other types of network devices. Also, hubs are designed for local area networks only.
A switch is like a hub, but it can send and receive messages simultaneously, making it faster than a hub. It can also transmit information to a specific computer, instead of “carpet bombing” all computers like a hub does. The downside is that a switch is slightly more expensive than a hub; the trade-off is additional performance over cost. For LAN gaming at a reasonable price, a switch offers a good combination of performance and affordability.
Finally, a router is the networking tool of choice if your goal is to connect your home network to the Internet as well. Routers facilitate communication between two different networks, for example between a local area network in a house and the wide area network of the Internet. When buying a router, make sure it includes a built-in firewall, for security reasons, and the ability to password protect your network. This will offer a good level of performance and security for an Internet-capable wired home network.
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