[Jessica Jagerson]

Provide the major difference between switching and routing.

[Carlos Martes]

Switching and routing are both essential networking functions but serve different purposes. Switching operates mainly at the data link layer of the OSI model. It is used within a local area network to connect devices like computers, printers and servers. Switches forward data based on MAC addresses, ensuring packets are sent only to the intended device. They are fast, efficient and reduce clusters of traffic by creating direct communication paths. Routing on the other hand, works at the network layer. Routers connect multiple networks together, such as linking a home LAN to the internet. Routing decisions are made based on IP addresses, determining the best path for data to travel across networks. Unlike switches, routers can manage complex paths, prioritize traffic, and connect different types of networks. In short, switching is about efficient delivery within a network, while routing is about directing traffic between networks. Hope this helps!

[Isabelle Tubbs]

Hi, Carlos! I like how you summarized the difference between switching and routing at the end. It definitely helps describe the way in which they work and what each is focused on. For example, because routing is directing network traffic, it should naturally control complex paths, traffic, and network types. Switches, on the other hand, deliver data efficiently, so they are focused more on finding the right communication path.

[Isabelle Tubbs]

Using switching and routing (depending on an organization’s needs) are both important actions to take within a network, but the two concepts do have some differences. The main difference between the two is related to what layer they are on because that indicates what each process focuses on. Switching occurs on the data link layer. With switching, packets of data are sent between a network’s devices by referencing a MAC address table (Snabay Networking, 2024). Routing, on the other hand, does establish an efficient path for data packets, but it can apply to not just one network but also moving it across other networks (Snabay Networking, 2024). A routing table is a large part of the information that routing uses to do this. As a result, even though switching and routing both involve the movement of data packets, the information they reference and the layer they operate on are different.

References
Snabay Networking. 2024. What is Routing and Switching? Difference Between Routing and Switching. https://snabaynetworking.com/what-is-routing-and-switching-difference-between-routing-and-switching/

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