Packet loss is common with switches but not much of an issue using a hub.
No, that would be a hub or repeater. A switch will only transmit a message to the designated receiver (unless the packet is a broadcast packet).
If you have switch from hub to switch, the answer is yes of course. Hub uses broadband connections all the time, when switch creates a virtual channel for each connection. It protects your network from somebody who wants to collect network packages which do not belong to that person. Some router have manageable interface and allow even filtering. Depending on model you are using you benefit more or less but still benefit anyway.
Yes, the main reason is switch is an inteligent device for routing IP Packet. It substitute conventional hub which is not smart because it broadcast IP packet to all its port. This impact to network performance because IP packet flooding network. While switch have internal routing table that can help switch to forwarding to a exact port where the destination host is connected to its switch port.
what are the similarities between network switch and a hub
If you have a hub then the packet is sent to every computer, and only the right computer will read it. The rest just quietly ignore it. Obviously this poses a major security risk. If its a switch then the switch has a table which tells it which address matches which port. So when the packet arrives, the switch checks the destination address then it goes to the table and gets the corresponding port and then sends the packet accordingly. A router works similarly enough. Except a router can do alot more complex operations.
A crossover cable is used to connect a Hub or Switch to another Hub or Switch - or a PC to another PC.
A hub is just a dumb repeater that splits whatever signal comes in via some port straight out all of the other ports. A switch is a bit more intelligent in that it checks the destination hardware address in the packet which comes in and forwards that packet back out only the port where the target network interface is actually located.
No, because there is a hub between star topology and every station connect to that central hub. hub cause broadcast and congession since packet loss is more likely to occur. I suggest that mesh topology is more faster as there is a dedicated link to each node.
Port in hub/switch refers to the interface where you connect your computers.
it is a switch in hubs
switches does not have the database...much smarter than a hub.
Hubs and Switches make 1 ethernet connection out of as many is on the hub or switch.