applications. Likewise, since data transfers occur 10
times faster than Fast Ethernet, servers outfitted with
Gigabit Ethernet NIC’s are able to perform 10 times
the number of operations in the same amount of
time.
Switching Technology
Another key development pushing the limits of
Ethernet technology is in the field of switching
technology. A switch bridges Ethernet packets at the
MAC address level of the Ethernet protocol
transmitting among connected Ethernet or fast
Ethernet LAN segments.
Switching is a cost-effective way of increasing the
total network capacity available to users on a local
area network. A switch increases capacity and
decreases network loading by making it possible for
a local area network to be divided into different
segments which don’t compete with each other for
network transmission capacity, giving a decreased
load on each.
The switch acts as a high-speed selective bridge
between the individual segments. Traffic that needs
to go from one segment to another is automatically
forwarded by the switch, without interfering with any
other segments. This allows the total network
capacity to be multiplied, while still maintaining the
same network cabling and adapter cards.
Switching LAN technology is a marked improvement
over the previous generation of network bridges,
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Summary of Contents for DN-8006C1
Page 1: ...User s Guide DN 8006C1 ...
