What is the role of network switch？
Network switches are usually used in larger networks, such as corporate offices, but they are also used in much smaller networks like your home.
They provide you with a way to connect multiple devices in a single LAN without relying on Wi-Fi. I believe you already know that Wi-Fi is not always the most reliable.
Although we may have one or two network switches, a larger network may have dozens of switches to connect different devices.
Each floor of the office can have its own private switch to connect all the equipment on that particular floor, but each switch is also connected to each other. The final result is that the equipment on one floor will be able to communicate with the equipment on the other floor.
All switches will eventually connect back to the router and finally allow all connected devices to access the Internet through the modem.
What's the use of modem?
Modems can be considered as devices connecting home networks and the Internet.
Even if there is a router, all devices connected to it, whether directly connected, through a network switch or wireless connection, cannot access the Internet without a modem connection.
The modem's job is to connect your network to your ISP, and then the ISP connects to the Internet.
It obtains signals from your ISP and converts them into different signals that all your devices can understand and use, and vice versa.
The location of the modem will depend on the type of Internet connection you use. These are:
Cable: The cable modem uses a coaxial cable. One end is connected to the back of the modem and the other end is connected to the wall or back of the cable box.
DSL: DSL (digital subscriber line) is the most common type of Internet connection (at least in the UK), and works with the same wires as ordinary telephone lines.
Dial-up: Dial-up is the oldest Internet connection method. Because it is much slower than wired and DSL, it is rarely used now. Another disadvantage is that you cannot access the Internet when using mobile phones.
Sometimes routers and modems are completely independent hardware, but now it is more common to include them in a unit. The "mix" of the two can often be called a gateway, and many ISPs provide this way to simplify the customer's setup process.
