[jerse]

Can someone tell me if a hub and a router do the same thing? Thanks

[jerse]

Thank you so much for your quick reply. That was a lot of info. for my pea brain to absorb but I think I get the idea. The reason I asked is because I have two pc's networked. I have DSL, a DSL modem and a D-Link router. There are two spaces left on the router and I wondered if my scanner could plug into it.
OS Win XP
HO Scanjet 3970
Speed Stream 5100 modem

[Sampson]

Most scanners don't use an ethernet connection. They usually interface through a serial port, printer port or USB. Generally, as with printers, you would attach it to one or the other of the computers, make the scanner shareable (might password protect it). Your router probably only has ethernet connections.

[jerse]

Thanks to both of you so much!! My Scanner is connected to a USB port and I was just curious about the router. When I installed the scanner it said I didn't have a "Hi Speed USB port" on my pc. Heck, I wouldn't know if I do or not. Also it said that it would work on my USB port but would run slower. What does getting a Hi Speed USB port involve? If it's something I have to install I have no problem with that cause I've already been inside my pc. Oh, and I'm not a 'man', I'm a woman. lolol An old woman at that.

[Phalanx-Imawano]

Um, just to clarify and I don't mean to be nitpicking or anything.

A hub merely allows networking for devices within the same subnet, and all packets are repeated through all its ports, giving it the potential of collisions. A router allows connection between two otherwise incompatible networks (eg networks with different subnets), and one example of that is using NAT to share an internet connection with several networked PC's. A more appropriate comparison is between a hub and a LAN Switch, which delivers packets to a specific MAC address (the LAN Switch stores it and knows which port it's plugged into) instead of broadcasting it to all ports. It just so happens most Cable Modem/DSL Routers have a LAN Switch built in so it becomes a complete solution (i.e. consumers don't have to buy a separate hub/LAN Switch if there are enough ports already - my home LAN with a shared DSL connection still has a separate D-Link hub because the location of the Linksys Router makes it inconvinient to be a sharing point - cabling is a bit of an issue at my home), but even Linksys sells LAN Switches as well as DSL Routers.

[jerse]

ALEC....I now have the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 installed on my pc! Took no time all. Also had a chance to get rid of some dust. Joyce