Switch

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A switch looks like and works like a hub, but it is a much more intelligent and efficient transmitter. Physically, it is a black box with 4, 8 or 16 ports. You connect 10 or 100 mbit network adapters using UTP cabling and RJ45 plugs. Just like a hub.

The switch reads each data packet it receives. It knows which PC is connected to which port, and this way the switch can transmit data directly from one PC to the other. Each connection gets full 100 mbit independent bandwidth (200 mbit using full dublex).