Focus: Routing vs Switching (Moving Traffic Inside & Between Networks)

Learning Intention

We are learning how routers and switches handle packets differently and why both are critical for network communication.

Success Criteria

• I can explain the role of a switch in a LAN vs a router in connecting networks.
• I can trace how a packet leaves a device and finds its way to the internet.

📝 Seminar Study Notes – “Switch or Router?”

• Switch:
  • Works at Layer 2 (Data Link).
  • Uses MAC addresses to forward frames.
  • Connects devices in the same network (LAN).
• Router:
  • Works at Layer 3 (Network).
  • Uses IP addresses to forward packets.
  • Connects different networks (LAN → WAN).
• Packet flow:
  • Device → Switch (MAC) → Router (IP) → Internet.
  • Default Gateway: the router’s IP on the LAN.

Warm-Up Practice Question

• Which device forwards packets based on MAC address?
  • a) Switch
  • b) Router
  • c) Firewall
  • d) Access Point
• Answer: a) Switch

Seminar Activity

• Sketch a packet flow diagram (device → switch → router → internet).
• Group discussion: “What happens if the switch fails? What if the router fails?”