A computer network is a set of many connecting devices through links. There are many tasks which computers have to perform. So there are many network devices. And networks are a very important part of computer system architecture. The gateway and the switch are very crucial components of computer networking.
Gateway vs Switch
The main difference between gateway and switch is that gateway is a generic name for all the networking devices which connect multiple networks. whereas A switch is a unit of hardware that controls all the devices and allows the devices to talk to each other which connects all the input-output devices.
A gateway as the name suggests means a device that is the main center or point. A gateway acts as a gate between all the multiple devices of the computer which allows the data to pass. It connects multiple networks with different protocols and architecture. The main and very important networking device.
A switch that allows all the machines which are connected to it to send the data and receive the data simultaneously. All the nodes are connected to it. A switch is a fundamental unit of hardware by which all devices can communicate. The switch connects each address to a direct and secure data link.
Comparison Table Between Gateway and Switch
| Parameters of Comparison | Gateway | Switch |
| Working | Gateway works as a passage between two networks. | The switch works as a multi-port bridge between networks. |
| Performance | The gateway does not have the architecture to check for errors in the system. | The switch has the architecture and can detect the error before forwarding the packets to the network. |
| Filtering | Packet filtering is not provided in the gateway. | Packet provides function provided in the switch. |
| Model | The gateway connects two networks that work on different models. | The switch joins devices that use similar network models. |
| The Format | The format of each Packet is changed when it passes through the gateway. | The format of each packet is not changed when it passes through the switch. |
What is Gateway?
A network node means a node that connects many networks. And gateway is also a network node. It serves as a link between two operational networks that use distinct transmission protocols.
There are open system interconnection layer models and seven layers present in it. and the gateway operates at one layer of it i.e. network layer. It acts as the entry-exit point for a network since all the network traffic passes through the gateway. Only the (local area network ) LAN(internal traffic) between all the nodes does not pass through the gateway. If we take an example like the cloud, and internet attack of gateway and gateway create a path through which switch and router are connected, covering all that devices are connected. So the gateway is the main center for all the connections that exist.
Features of Gateways are – Gateway is a boundary of all the networks which manages all the inflows and outflows of data. It operates on different transmission protocols. A gateway is a protocol converter that allows different protocols and networks to communicate with one another. It also keeps router information. A gateway node can be enhanced with a proxy server or firewall. It employs the packet switching method for data transport.
What is Switch?
The open system interconnection model consists of seven layers and switches are those networking devices operating at the second layer i.e. data link layer. This layer is a complicated layer that has complex functionalities and liabilities. The data link layer represents itself as a medium of communication.
Switches are used to receive and forward data with the help of packets. Simply, switches are used to send, receive forward data in the form of packets and data frames over the network. All the devices are connected through a switch; It has several ports into which PCs may be connected. When data comes to any port switch, check the destination address and perform necessary checks and send the frame to corresponding devices. It performs all types of functionality such as unicast, multicast, and broadcast communication as well.
Features of Switches- The switch is a smart network device that may be thought of as a multiport network bridge. To transfer data packets to a target port, the switch employs medium access control sublayer addresses. It uses a packet switching method for receiving and forwarding data through the destination device. The switch supports all communications such as one to one, one to many, and one to all.
Main Differences Between Gateway and Switch
- The structure and functioning of the gateway are more complex whereas the structure and functioning of the switch are very less complex.
- Gateway works as a protocol converter whereas switch does not work as a protocol converter.
- Gateway works on all layers, mainly the third layer of OSI whereas switch works only in the data link layer.
- The gateway joins two networks that operate on different models and has just two ports whereas The switch joins devices that use the same network models and has a large number of ports.
- A gateway is a generic name for a networking device whereas A switch is a fundamental piece of hardware.
- The gateway does not have error-checking capabilities whereas Before forwarding packets, the switch checks for errors.
Conclusion
Gateways are used to regulate network traffic between more disparate networks. A switch is allowed to communicate devices of computers. Both these two terms play a major role in a computer network system because we know computers work on different devices and there are many different networks present within all many devices. Here we understand all the two important terms of computer networks.
One thing you know already before knowing these two terms is that OSI models and their seven layers are in detail. Because these layers play a major role in these two terms the gateway and the switch and these are only two but there are many networking devices that you need to know for understanding computer system architecture.
References
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/6673345/
- https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/276538606.pdf