9
32-Port 10/100Mbps Ethernet Switch User Guide
switch bridge 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 LAN. A switch
increases capacity and decreases network loading by
dividing a LAN into different segments that don't compete
with each other for network transmission capacity.
The switch acts as a high-speed selective bridge between the
individual segments. The switch automatically forwards
traffic that needs to go from one segment to another without
interfering with any other segments. This multiplies the
total network capacity while maintaining the same network
cabling and adapter cards.
For Fast Ethernet networks, a switch is an effective way of
eliminating problems of chaining hubs beyond the “two-
repeater limit.” A switch can be used to split parts of the
network into different collision domains, making it possible
to expand your Fast Ethernet network beyond the
205-meter network diameter limit for 100 BASE-TX
networks. Switches supporting both traditional 10Mbps
Ethernet and 100Mbps Fast Ethernet are also ideal for
bridging between the existing 10Mbps networks and the
new 100Mbps networks.
Switching LAN technology is an improvement over the
previous generation of network bridges, which were
characterized by higher latencies. Routers have also been
used to segment LANs, but the cost of a router, the setup
and maintenance required make routers relatively
impractical. Today switches are an ideal solution to most
kinds of LAN congestion problems.
