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Examples of statistics that an RMON probe can collect include: Bandwidth utilization statistics,
number of bytes sent, packets sent and dropped, broadcast and multicast packets, CRC errors,
runts, fragments, jabbers, and collisions.
Multicasting and IGMP
The Internet Group Multicast Protocol (IGMP) is a standards-based technology that paves the
way for the broadcasting of voice, video, and data over the Internet and corporate
intranet
s,
without depleting network resources.
IP multicasting transmits IP packets from one source to many destinations on a network. The
network forwards packets to only the hosts that need to receive them. If the network hardware
supports multicast, a packet destined for multiple recipients can be sent as a single packet
instead of as many copies of the same packet, with each one going to one recipient.
The ability to support thousands of users by using one packet without substantially affecting
bandwidth requirements or causing network congestion makes IP multicasting ideal for:
Distributing internal corporate data to large numbers of users.
Multicasting live radio and television programs over the Internet, without consuming vast
amounts of bandwidth.
Interactive video conferencing though the Internet, intranet, or extranet, without having to
use expensive equipment.
Delivering internal education simultaneously to hundreds of workers at a single site or at
multiple sites.
Conclusion
Networking has emerged as an essential component of small businesses. For many of them,
success or failure revolves around the power of the network and their ability to keep it operating
at peak efficiency. For this reason, small businesses must manage their networks the same way
they manage their other strategic assets.
Rapidly changing traffic patterns, unforeseen network problems, and unexpected killer
applications can swamp a small-business network overnight, resulting in network downtime and
lost revenue. Since most small businesses have neither the in-house expertise nor personnel to
fix network problems, the best strategy is to maximize uptime by protecting networks against
potential failures with a managed switch specifically designed for small businesses.
Managed switches aimed at small-business users also offer some or all of the basic and
advanced management features described in this paper. Unlike enterprise switches that provide
complicated management features designed for corporate networks, the management features
offered by small-business switches are designed to be as easy to use as possible. After all, in a
small-business environment, a management feature’s ease of use can ultimately determine
whether that feature is used. The fact that you may be using the switch in the heat of a network
outage makes ease of use as
or even more
paramount as the features it supports.
Managed switches designed for small businesses are cost-conscious solutions that offer easy
installation, affordable high-speed connectivity, and simplified maintenance, along with the
