Switches

Switches are used to connect multiple nodes on a network so that they can communicate with one another. Switches are the most efficient way of doing this, as your only other alternative would be a hub. Hubs broadcast packets to every node on the network and the node that the data is intended for receives the packet. Switched networks are more efficient because the switch already knows where the packets are supposed to go and sends the data directly to the intended recipient. We always recommend using a switch as opposed to a hub.