Gateway | Router | Switch | |
Purpose | Makes it possible for two dissimilar network protocols (BACnet/Modbus) to communicate and regulates the traffic between them. It is a translator. | Regulates traffic between two similar network protocols that may use different communication protocols. | Allows for more devices to be connected to the same network. |
Summary | |||
Analogy | A translator in a business meeting translating English to Japanese | A mediator in a debate relaying information | A postman bringing a letter from one town to the next |