This means that messages have to be transmitted out of every port of the hub, greatly degrading the efficiency of the network.' Hubs neither provide security, or identification of connected devices. Because of these features, a switch is often considered more 'intelligent' than a network hub. This maximises security and efficiency of the network. Each networked device connected to a switch can be identified using a MAC address, allowing the switch to regulate the flow of traffic. Switches manage the flow of data across a network by only transmitting a received message to the device for which the message was intended. Multiple cables can be connected to a switch to enable networked devices to communicate with each other.
'A switch is a device used on a computer network to physically connect devices together. The vector stencils library 'Cisco switches and hubs' contains 26 symbols of Cisco switches and hubs for drawing computer network diagrams.
