2
Port trunking is used to aggregate multiple switch ports into one full-duplex, high-
bandwidth port for greater throughput.
The IEEE802.1d Spanning Tree Protocol is used to enhance network resilience to link
failures and protect networks against loops.
Switch firmware can be upgraded through TFTP to take advantage of new features and
improvements.
As network-centric applications, file sizes, Internet traffic, network users, and the need for
instant access to data all continue to increase, small-businesses will continue to be impacted by
the resulting network bandwidth crunch. Because network availability has a dramatic impact on
the success of small businesses more and more small businesses will be turning to a managed-
switch solution for their networks.
Managed switches designed for small businesses offer plug-and-play installation and easy
maintenance, with basic and advanced features that stand up to the bandwidth demands of
today. Managed switches also hold the key to the emerging capabilities that small-business
networks are expected to provide, now and in the future.
This white paper shows how small businesses can benefit from a managed switch. It describes
the basic and advanced management features found in managed switches, and provides
practical suggestions for putting managed switches to work for you. A glossary at the end of this
paper defines the technical terms used in this paper (these terms are italicized when mentioned
for the first time).
What is a Managed Switch?
The network is a vital component of any small business. Without the network, even the best
servers, applications, and databases are effectively useless. The one common element of all
aspects of any IT infrastructure is the underlying network.
A managed switch allows the ports on the switch to be configured, monitored, enabled, and
disabled. Switch management can also gather information on a variety of network parameters,
such as:
The numbers of
packet
s that pass through the switch and each of its ports.
What types of packets they are.
Whether the packets contain errors.
The number of
collision
s that have occurred
.
Basic Management Features of a Managed Switch
Switches come with a variety of features. The following sections describe basic features that a
small business should look for in a managed switch. These sections include:
-
Gigabit Ethernet Support
-
Port Monitoring
-
Central/Remote Monitoring
