1) As far as I know, a hub does NOT route packets; yet, I have been to several businesses (including the one I am employed at) that uses hubs (and switches). From what I can tell, I am going through a hub, then from there into a router (we are on a domain) and from there I am not sure.
I have internet access, and therein lies the confusion. If a hub does NOT support routing, then how can I get to the internet?
Wouldn't a switch be better in every situation?
If not, then why?
hubs and switches do not route...routers route....but hubs and switches DO forward packets across the network (as that's what they're made to do) so the reason you've got internet/network access through the hub is because somewhere in the mix there is a router...you're just not plugged directly into it...you're plugged into a hub...or a switch...
hubs (dumb hubs) are basically just etherenet ports...they work almost exactly like a phone splitter and just multiply the amount of places that you can plug rj45 into...they don't care what kind of traffic they push through...they just push it
switches on the other hand stop broadcast traffic which allow for network segmentation..switches can also impliment vlans (google it...not enough time to explain that) which are basically virtual lans within one physical lan...switches do care what the traffic is that's coming through them...but the don't care that much
routers route (what a shocker) information (packets) between dissimilar networks (networks with different ip ranges...like your internal network and the internet) they are like mailmen (fe-mailmen?) who know exactly who all the letters they get go to and where they live...or at the very least...where the next post office that might know where they live is..
as far as switches being better in all occasions....there's no such thing as "all occasions" in networking...but...i tend to prefer using switches over hubs because they're smarter...but when you just need extra places to plug something in...why waste money?
for the security deal give
this a read