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" For an introduction to Ethernet hubs and switches

and their differences, see ³What is the difference
between an Ethernet hub and switch?´ at
#
$
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& 
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Most broadband routers (³routers´ for short) are a

combination Ethernet switch (or hub) and Network
Address Translator (NAT; see below). They usually
include a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (c'()
server, Domain Name Service (DNS) proxy server (see
below), and a hardware firewall to protect the Local
Area Network (LAN) from malicious intrusion from the
Internet.

All routers have a Wide Area Network (WAN) Port. This port connects to the to a DSL
or cable MODEM for broadband service (e.g., the Internet) and is usually a 10 MHz
10BASET Ethernet port. A 10 MHz WAN port is sufficient for cable and DSL MODEMs
as these devices transfer data at rate that is a fraction of 10 MHz. I have seen no
broadband routers with a USB WAN port to connect to a USB cable or DSL MODEM.

Many recent broadband routers are combination routers/Ethernet switch (or hub) that
have multiple Ethernet ports to connect more than one PC to form a LAN. These ports
allow the PCs to share the WAN port/broadband Internet connection and perform LAN
functions, such as Windows file and printer sharing. The LAN ports are usually 100 MHz
100 BASE-TX Ethernet.

Some routers have a single WAN port and a single LAN port and are designed to
connect to an existing LAN hub or switch to a WAN.

Ethernet switches and hubs can be connected to router with multiple PC ports to
expand a LAN. Depending on the capabilities (kinds of available ports) of the router
and the switches or hubs, the connection between the router and switches/hubs may
require straight-thru or crossover cables
( #
$ ) 

&** $). See ³What is an
uplink port and what are the ways to connect two hubs/switches together?´ at
#
$
%
&* & $ for details.

Some routers have ports for USB connections to computers on a LAN. Some have
wireless LAN capabilities.
In addition to a WAN port, broadband routers, such as the SMC Barricade routers
( #
$ ) + 
,
&$$-.$-. $), may have a serial
port that can be connected to an external dial-up MODEM (useful as a backup for the
cable of DSL service) and a built in LAN printer server and printer port.

A router DHCP server provides local Internet Protocol (IP) Addresses

(  $ 
$ & */.0; e.g., 192.168.02,
192.168,.0.2,«) to PC¶s, etc. on the LAN set to obtain their IP addresses
automatically. These DHCP servers can usually be configured to allow assignment of
static IP addresses to PCs and other devices on the LAN. A router-borne DNS proxy
handles Internet name resolution requests form PCs on the LAN to the ISPs DNS
servers to translate names of computers on the Internet to IP addresses (e.g.,
duxcw.com to 216.92.56.121). The NAT function in the broadband router allows
sharing a single IP address provided by the Internet Service Provider with PCs
connected directly to the router/switch or to hub or switch connected to the router by
mapping local LAN IP addresses (assigned by the DHCP server or static IPs on the
same TCP/IP subnet) to Internet IP addresses and vice versa and translating the
address information in the TCP/IP protocol packets.

Besides the inherent protection features provided by the NAT, many routers have a
built-in, configurable, hardware-based firewall. Firewall capabilities can range from the
very basic to quite sophisticated. Among the capabilities found on leading routers are
those that permit configuring TCP/UDP ports ( 

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$) for games, chat services, and the like, and installing web servers, etc. on the
LAN behind the firewall.

In short, a hub glues together an Ethernet network segment, a switch can connect
multiple Ethernet segments, and a router can do those functions plus route TCP/IP
packets between multiple PCs on LAN and a WAN, & more.